Borrowed Light: Rohini Devasher

In her research-intensive practice, Rohini Devasher (b. 1978) explores the intersections between science, art, and philosophy. Astronomy, in which working with light plays a central role, is of particular importance to the Indian artist. “Borrowed” or reflected light allows phenomena to be captured and understood that otherwise remain in the dark—and, therefore, far removed from the realms of human perception. Devasher reveals the complexity of the processes of seeing and shows how thin the line is between knowledge and mystery. Rohini Devasher was named Deutsche Bank’s ‘Artist of the Year’ for 2024. This publication accompanies her first solo exhibition at a major institution in Germany—Borrowed Light at the PalaisPopulaire in Berlin.

Text in English and German.

Rohini Devasher (born 1978 in New Delhi, India) holds a BFA in Painting from the College of Art, New Delhi and an MFA in Printmaking from the Winchester School of Art at the University of Southampton in the UK. Most recently, her work has been shown at the Minnesota Street Project Foundation, the Kunsthalle Bern (2024) and the Museum Catharijneconvent Utrecht, Netherlands (2024). In 2023 she was a double fellow in the field of art at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva and at the International Center for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS-TIFR) in Bengaluru, India. Devasher’s work has been shown at the 14th Sharjah Biennial Leaving the Echo Chamber (2019), Kaserne Basel (2019) Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) (2018), 7th Moscow Biennial (2017), the Spencer Museum of Art USA (2018,16), MAAT Museum of Art and Technology, Lisbon (2016), ZKM, Karsruhe (2016), Bhau Daji Lad City Museum in Mumbai (2016, 2018) Singapore Art and Science Museum (2016), Whitechapel Gallery, London (2016), and the 5th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial (2014), the 1st Kochi Biennale (2012), among others. Recent projects include ‘The Observatory’ a performative essay in collaboration with Legion Seven performed at Kaserne Basel (October 2020), Conjunctions and Observing Observation (October 2019) as part of the 5 Million Incidents Project (2019-2020) initiated by the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi & Kolkata, conceptualised in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective.