The exhibition is the first of a series of curated exhibitions titled ‘Engaging Traditions’, which invites artists to respond to the Museum’s collection, history and archives. Shetty's work questions the premise of the Museum, any museum, its existence and the aura of authority it exudes. Shetty’s art offers a subtle critique on the idea of the ‘Museum object’ as objects that were once markers of high taste or imbued with the sanctity of ritual, are now no longer relevant except as a “memory bank” as their meaning has been voided both in terms of use and symbol. Each artwork in the show is a staged event flaunting its moment of truth and glory. “It's the dystopia of the city where the tenses are confused and the unreal becomes real” says Shetty. In the Museum's central atrium, standing in front of the statue of Prince Albert, was a life-size gilded sculpture depicting a toppled statue of the artist on a worn out pedestal. Mechanically linked to the statue was a coin-box, which would act as counter weight and would gradually resurrect the statue as enough coins were put into it.
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