Mithu Sen

Biography

Mithu Sen’s conceptual art practice is born of a desire to subvert hierarchical social codes pertaining to myths of the market, sexuality, language and marginalisation. Her multidisciplinary work unpacks and interrogates systems of social exchange, modes of self-representation and notions of the taboo through close readings and manipulations of language and the body. Central to her approach is a strategy she calls ‘lingual anarchy’, which entails the use of various elements of ‘non-language’, such as noise, sonic affect and vocal glitch, to scrutinise the linguistic structures of power and social behaviour. The interventions and interactive methodologies of play she employs challenge the norms surrounding the production and circulation of art.

Sen’s exhibitions have taken place at sonsbeek 20-24, Arnhem, the Netherlands (2021); APT9-9th Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Australia (2018); Kunstmuseum, Wolfsburg (2018); Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai (2018); Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi (2017); Guggenheim Museum, New York (2016); Unlimited: Art Basel (2016); Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan, USA (2014); Kochi-Muziris Biennale (2014); Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna (2014); Dhaka Art Summit (2014); Tate Modern Project Space, London (2013); Zacheta Museum, Warsaw (2011); and National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (2008), among others.

Her awards include Performance Artist of the Year, India Today Art Awards (2020); Prudential Eye Award for Contemporary Asian Art, Singapore (2015); and The SKODA Prize, Delhi (2011).

Sen’s works can be found in the collections of Kadist Foundation, Paris; Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi; Burger Collection, Hong Kong; Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Germany; and Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio.

Sen received a BFA and an MFA in Painting from Visva Bharati, Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, India (1995 and 1997, respectively) and pursued a postgraduate programme (visiting) from the Glasgow School of Art, UK (2000–2001).

Born in 1971, in West Bengal, India, she lives and works in New Delhi.

SAF participation:
Sharjah Biennial 15 (2023)
March Meeting 2023