The great James Whistler once observed that an artist is not paid for his labour, but his vision. The ongoing curation, The Artist As, at Tarq captures the many roles that said artist inhabits during the transformation. Curated by Vaidehi Gohil and Sakshi Bhandari, the exhibition features 18 artists, with each artists’ presentation centering on a singular chosen role.

Nooks and crannies, 2025. Pic Courtesy/Savia Mahajan; Tarq

From Sameer Kulavoor and Ronny Sen’s response to the contemporary city, or Saubiya Chasmawala and Soghra Khurasani’s explorations of identity and relationships, and Areez Katki, Rithika Merchant’s take on familial, oral and cultural histories to name a few, the works question the artists’ role as a constructor of meaning.