“Shilpa Gupta: I did not tell you what I saw, but only what I dreamt” is on view at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art through January 14, 2025. Gupta’s work takes all that we know about identity and breaks it apart, dispersing the elements until they’re abstract. In other works, she takes apart elements that represent countries, such as all the stars featured in various flags. They are relinquished to the floor, where visitors can pick up a wax star and take it home with them. I was reminded of Sylvia Plath’s poem “Candles,” when I picked up a star among other stars, and felt the wax in my hands [...] The exhibition is also a way to honor those who succumbed to censorship and a memorialization of all the important writers and artists who aren’t able to show their work freely. We take their names home with us, and remember them.

Standing before his unflattering portraits of Spanish royalty, I was struck by how Goya’s art transcended traditional representation to challenge authority and reveal deeper truths. [...] His portrayal exposes the vanity and moral decay of the royals, turning a conventional portrait into a powerful critique. This act of artistic rebellion was a courageous statement, urging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about their leaders and the nature of power. [...] This courage to confront authority is mirrored in Shilpa Gupta’s recent installation, “Sound On: Untitled, 2023.” Exhibited at Amant Art Center as part of "I Did Not Tell You What I Saw, But Only What I Dreamt," Gupta’s kinetic installation uses reverse-wired microphones to create an immersive auditory experience. The installation features a rotating voice reciting the names and detention dates of poets who have faced imprisonment, exile, or execution, including the grim fate of fourth-century poet Imadaddin Nasimi. A solitary lightbulb and evocative soundscape underscore the humility and resilience of these censored voices.

Art021 Hong Kong will feature 73 galleries and projects from 13 countries and regions, spanning five sections. The Galleries sector will showcase established and emerging artists from 40 galleries at Phillips Asia’s headquarters in the West Kowloon Cultural District. [...] Art021 Hong Kong will host a solo exhibition by Iranian-born American artist Amir H. Fallah, presented by Los Angeles- and Shanghai-based Gallery All. Additionally, the noncommercial curatorial project “One Thousand and One Nights,” inspired by Middle Eastern folktales, will feature works by artists from Western Asia, including Tala Madani, Shilpa Gupta, Mandy El Sayegh, Alia Ahmad, and others.