A month-long exhibition titled ‘Zameen’ (land) opens in Kolkata on Friday, January 9, 2026. It features works by present-day Indian artists on the theme of land and its importance in shaping identity. The exhibit runs until February 8 at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture. Curator Ina Puri said, “Land carries deep cultural and emotional significance, anchoring identity, heritage and community ties.” She explained how land was once held collectively in many societies but shifted to being an asset of ownership and control due to colonisation and capitalism. Ms. Puri added, “Nationalist and majoritarian politics have amplified religious, ethnic and caste identities, and digital media and populist rhetoric have further polarised communities.” The exhibition focuses on individual stories and personal experiences in this changing context. It features 11 artists including Vikrant Bhise, Shambhavi Singh, Birender Yadav, Debasish Mukherjee, K.R. Sunil, and the late Zarina Hashmi. Ms. Puri said, “’Zameen’ is symbolic — conceptually everyone’s land/roots/belonging is different.” Artist Debasish Mukherjee stated, “The exhibition brings together artists whose practices engage critically and sensitively with the politics of land. The works reflect on land as a site of memory, conflict, belonging, labour, and personal history.”