Imagining Future Worlds
Posted On
Rithika Merchant’s Utopian Visions at TARQ, Mumbai
An exploration of sustainability, symbolism, and solace in the face of climate anxiety
At TARQ gallery in Mumbai, artist Rithika Merchant unveils Pillars of Fruit and Bone, a captivating series of 15 paintings that transport viewers to an imagined utopia—one built on sustainability and deep ecological harmony. Known for her unique blend of mythology, speculative fiction, and science, Merchant’s work is rich in symbolic imagery and fantasy-driven narratives. Her latest body of work continues this thread, offering a surreal yet meaningful visual escape from the ecological crises of our time.
The exhibition, on view at TARQ (KK Navsari Chambers, Fort, Mumbai) until May 31, 2025, offers more than just a fantastical retreat. It is, at its core, an introspective exploration of climate anxiety—a condition increasingly shared by communities around the world. For Merchant, the act of creating these otherworldly landscapes is deeply personal. She describes her process as an act of “self-soothing,” a way to contend with the emotional toll of environmental degradation and uncertainty.
In Pillars of Fruit and Bone, Merchant constructs alternative realities—places that thrive far away from the Earth we know today. These utopian realms are teeming with intricate forms, imagined species, and interconnected ecosystems that hint at an evolved way of life. Her characteristic style—delicate line work, vivid colour palettes, and mythical imagery—continues to ground her work in an ethereal yet accessible aesthetic.
Art historian Dr. Cleo Roberts-Komireddi, who is based in London, offers insight into the conceptual depth of this series. She notes, “In Merchant’s symbolically rich images, she elides diverse cosmological references and ecosystems to give an impression of what life may look like in future worlds.” Indeed, the paintings fuse visual cues from various mythological traditions, scientific systems, and speculative thinking to envision a holistic and harmonious existence.
Merchant’s fantastical creatures—half-human, half-plant beings, bone-like structures bearing fruit, and celestial organisms—are not merely flights of fancy. Each element serves as a symbol, inviting the viewer to decode layered meanings related to regeneration, coexistence, and resilience. These hybrid forms reflect a philosophy where growth is not achieved at the cost of destruction, but through balance and mutual support.
The series speaks to the broader discourse surrounding sustainability and the need for imaginative thinking in the Anthropocene age. Rather than presenting dystopian futures so common in contemporary art and media, Merchant offers an alternative: hopeful, healing, and visionary. Her utopias are not naïve dreams but strategic fictions—spaces where new paradigms can be tested and new emotional responses to environmental crises can emerge.
Merchant’s practice, which spans continents and cultural influences, continues to push the boundaries of contemporary visual language. By interweaving the ancient with the futuristic, the scientific with the sacred, she crafts a timeless narrative about the future of life on Earth—and beyond.
Visitors to TARQ will find in Pillars of Fruit and Bone not just a collection of exquisite artworks, but a poignant meditation on our planet’s uncertain future and a bold assertion of art’s ability to inspire change, soothe anxieties, and open portals to possibility.
Exhibition Details:
Pillars of Fruit and Bone by Rithika Merchant
On view until May 31, 2025
Venue: TARQ, KK (Navsari) Chambers, Ground Floor, 39 AK Nayak Marg, Fort,
Mumbai
