MAP Bengaluru exhibition traces Indian wrestling through art

Museum of Art and Photography in Bengaluru has opened a new exhibition, Grip, Hold, Pin, tracing Indian wrestling through photographs and artworks. The show, which opened on August 15, features archival images by Raghu Rai, TS Satyan and Jyoti Bhatt alongside contemporary work by Indrajit Khambe and Prarthna Singh.

Curated by Aayati Sengupta, the exhibition examines the bodies, spaces, rituals and communities around the sport. It connects wrestling to mythology, including Bhima's battle with Jarasandha and Enkidu's fight with Gilgamesh. The show arrives as Indian wrestling faces scrutiny over gender and power, following the 2023 protests by Olympic medallists Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia against the former wrestling federation chief.

The exhibition grew from MAP's collection of wrestling material. Commissioned photographers captured quieter moments in akharas rather than dramatic bout scenes. The exhibition is on view at MAP's Infosys Gallery until November 1. Entry is free.