Wire report
Amar Kanwar review: unflinching Indian artist dares you to step into the darkness (literally)
Serpentine North, London Making lyrical films for over 40 years, about everything from the end of empire to sexual brutality, Kanwar focuses on the parts of gruesome stories that are often missed The exhibition begins in darkness. A darkness so complete, in fact, that I’m forced to wait at the threshold while my eyes adjust to it. To my left, images flash up on screens that seem to float in the gloom: a peacock preens its wet feathers; dried flowers in a wooden bowl; sunlight scatters on water. When the room has resolved to the point that I can identify a chair to sit on, I realise that these pictures are combined with snippets of text telling stories like parables: about a landlord punished for breaking a promise to a beggar; about two friends who survive a massacre because they are down by the river, arguing over the moon. Welcome to the world of Amar Kanwar: if you want to find beauty
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Serpentine North, London Making lyrical films for over 40 years, about everything from the end of empire to sexual brutality, Kanwar focuses on the parts of gruesome stories that are often missed The exhibition begins in darkness. A darkness so complete, in fact, that I’m forced to wait at the threshold while my eyes adjust to it. To my left, images flash up on screens that seem to float in the gloom: a peacock preens its wet feathers; dried flowers in a wooden bowl; sunlight scatters on water. When the room has resolved to the point that I can identify a chair to sit on, I realise that these pictures are combined with snippets of text telling stories like parables: about a landlord punished for breaking a promise to a beggar; about two friends who survive a massacre because they are down by the river, arguing over the moon. Welcome to the world of Amar Kanwar: if you want to find beauty
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What happened
According to The Guardian’s source item, Amar Kanwar review: unflinching Indian artist dares you to step into the darkness (literally), Serpentine North, London Making lyrical films for over 40 years, about everything from the end of empire to sexual brutality, Kanwar focuses on the parts of gruesome stories that are often missed The exhibition begins in darkness. A darkness so complete, in fact, that I’m forced to wait at the threshold while my eyes adjust to it. To my left, images flash up on screens that seem to float in the gloom: a peacock preens its wet feathers; dried flowers in a wooden bowl; sunlight scatters on water. When the room has resolved to the point that I can identify a chair to sit on, I realise that these pictures are combined with snippets of text telling stories like parables: about a landlord punished for breaking a promise to a beggar; about two friends who survive a massacre because they are down by the river, arguing over the moon. Welcome to the world of Amar Kanwar: if you want to find beauty
Context
The development sits in VINI’s Culture file for readers following arts, entertainment, fashion, film, music, celebrity, and the business of culture. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-09-22T11:23:31+00:00.
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Primary source: Amar Kanwar review: unflinching Indian artist dares you to step into the darkness (literally) via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.
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- Amar Kanwar review: unflinching Indian artist dares you to step into the darkness (literally)The Guardian - 2026-09-22T11:23:31+00:00
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