“Inside India’s contemporary art scene, a dynamic mix of emerging and established artists are drawing fresh global attention, and at the recent India Art Fair, one installation stood out for its poetic reflection of place. The Dichotomy of Delhi is neither traditional artwork nor static installation. It is a living, breathing expression of the capital’s layered identity.”

Conceived as a Max Estates initiative in collaboration with Studio Lotus, and brought to life through performance design by Crow and visual art by XXL Collective, the structure crafted from forest-certified timber and birch ply evoked the notion of an urban forest. Entirely demountable, it was designed to be relocated to a Max Estates public space following the fair.

The work drew from Delhi’s juxtapositions with pockets of green nestled in concrete, harsh summers and icy winters, Mughal relics flanking glass towers. Over four days, the piece evolved in real time, with XXL Collective creating live artworks and Crow’s choreographed performances peeling back its layers moment by moment.