Villa Swagatam at the Jodhpur Arts Week 2025

01 October 2025

Former Villa Swagatam resident Gaspard Combes will present a site-specific sculptural installation at Mandore Garden for the first edition of Jodhpur Arts Week, taking place from 1- 7 October 2025. A key partner of the French Institute in India, the Jodhpur Arts Week is a cultural endeavour by the Public Arts Trust of India (PATI) which unites artists, designers and thinkers from across the globe in the unique context of the “blue city”.

Gaspard’s installation was developed during his residency with PATI in January and February 2025. His sculptural works merge megalithic references with everyday objects, exploring the tension between ancient symbols and modern artefacts, and reflecting with subtle humour on consumption, spirituality, and the pace of modern life. The production of the installation is supported by the French Institute in India, Villa Swagatam, and StoneX Global.

This first edition follows the Special Projects Edition of 2024, which featured fellow Villa Swagatam resident Deborah Fischer, also hosted at PATI. Her project The Whisperers, created in collaboration with master charpai weaver Dinesh Solanki, transformed Jodhpur’s decaying walls into vibrant charpais. By weaving together traditional techniques and contemporary artistic practices, Fischer highlighted the endurance of craft, the value of repair and care, and the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations. The Whisperers were also exhibited at the India Art Fair in February 2025.

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