Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement, emerged as the spirit of the first edition; celebrating persistence, learning, and the courage to keep moving forward. The second edition of Kaizen grows from that same spirit, but with a slightly wider horizon.
Vadodara has a distinctive and active art community, shaped by its institutions, histories, and generations of artists, so this year, we brought together artists who have not or very little exposure to Vadodara practice, with a conscious effort to bring practices into dialogue with the artistic environment here.
For the participating artists, this exhibition becomes an opportunity to encounter a new artistic context, engage with different practices, and receive fresh visual and critical responses. At the same time for practitioners in Vadodara, encountering works from other regions can open up new ways of seeing, thinking, making, and questioning. The intention is not to place one practice against another, but to allow these differences to sit alongside each other and create a space for exchange.
Therefore, the selection of artists has been guided by a desire to bring together practices that are honest, curious, and still evolving, carrying the openness and uncertainty that often accompanies beginnings. Their practices may not yet be fully resolve… and might they do not need to be. There is something valuable in this state of becoming: the willingness to experiment, to make mistakes, to question and to continue searching.
For me, Kaizen 2.0 is therefore not simply a group exhibition. It is an attempt to create a moment of encounter; a space where looking can lead to questioning, and where conversations can continue beyond the exhibition itself. If the first edition was a beginning, this edition is a step towards widening that conversation. And perhaps that is where Kaizen continues to find its meaning: not in arriving at a final answer, but in remaining open to what can change, what can be learned, and what can emerge next…..
Designed and Coordinated by
Chandra Banik and Debajit R Paul
Kaizen…..Why?
As we know, Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy meaning “continuous improvement.” or sometimes “Good Change”. _But why named the show Kaizen? ….as when I was asked to conceptualize this exhibition, the name came after many thoughtful discussions. Kaizen felt like the perfect fit, not just for what it means on the surface, but for its deeper spirit: the quiet strength to rise after every fall, to keep walking through uncertainty, and to move forward with persistence and care – this essence beautifully reflects the journey of Motile Art, and trying to replace it with anything similar felt like disrupting the soul of what this collective truly stands for.
Motile Art was formed around 2019 by a group of friends during their graduation days, for their shared love for art. Today, while they are scattered across different corners of the country, each navigating their hard-earned lives, their commitment to this collective dream has never wavered. It’s their undying belief, their persistence in the face of distance and difficulty – is what we are witnessing here today.
This milestone isn’t just an exhibition of artworks, it’s a heartfelt attempt to invite undisturbed perspectives and to encourage the way of thinking. When I was entrusted with the responsibility of crafting this show, I felt more than excitement…..I felt the weight of responsibility. This wasn’t just about putting together a group show; it was about preserving and amplifying the very spirit of Motile Art.
While choosing the artists, I knew I had to be gentle and careful to spotlight voices that speak with honesty, vulnerability, and openness. Most of them are young, having only recently stepped out of academic life. There’s something beautifully unpolished about their practice as mine too—unburdened by the demands of time, and deeply rooted – in the joy of creating, in sincerity of the ideas, and in the integrity of the efforts…
And so, this exhibition becomes more than a display- it becomes the celebration of perseverance, a tribute to sincere beginnings, and a hopeful reminder that art – when nurtured with care, can gently lead us toward rejuvenation.
ARTISTS of KAIZEN 2.0 1) Anurag Mitra, Tripura 2) Arup Nashkar, Kolkata 3) Chayan Das Thakur, Kolkata/Odisha 4) Suchandra Kundu , Kolkata 5) Sreelakshmi M Babu , Kerala 6) Proma Basu, West Bengal 7) Priyanka M Dhingra, Haryana 8) Sagar Marak, Shantiniketan 9) Vijit Sinha, Hyderabad 10) Baptu Debnath, Tripura 11) Suparna Barman, Tripura 12) Harsh Patel, Vadodara 13) Chinnarao Degala, Andhrapradesh
