Suryakant Lokhande’s #EveryDayIsCheatDay explores Disney nostalgia and consumer desire at ICIA Gallery, Mumbai
The Hindu
Suryakant reimagines Disney icons through Beckettian absurdity, transforming childhood dopamine into a looping spectacle of desire and excess
An arresting narrative of everything, something, and nothing (not necessarily in that same order) invites viewers at Mumbai’s Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA) Gallery into a fascinatingly off-kilter series of 10 artworks by contemporary artist Suryakant Lokhande. The solo exhibition, titled #EveryDayIsCheatDay, by AstaGuru Auction House and ICIA, contextualises the thematic undertone of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play Waiting for Godot through a visual grammar that is striking, nostalgic, colourful, and animated.
Dunking The Diamond; 48 x 36 in (122 x 91.4 cm); High-gloss oil on canvas 2024 | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Using Disney characters — from Uncle Scrooge to Mickey Mouse — Suryakant stages an illusion of allure that pulls viewers back to the 6pm Disney Hour, a dopamine-rich television staple of millennial childhood. What initially appears almost therapeutic — a reminder of good times — slowly mutates into a guilty pleasure (think screen time stretching past homework and sleep deadlines), before metamorphosing into a garish carousel of desire and aspiration. The works evoke ticketed rollercoaster rides at Disneyland, privileges contingent on travel visas and a solid bank balance. An inner dialogue unfolds as the viewer engages with the aesthetics on display.
Field Observation; 60 x 60 in (152.4 x 152.4 cm); High-gloss oil on canvas 2024 | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
In one artwork, Uncle Scrooge and his three grandnephews — Huey, Dewey, and Louie — are shown measuring wealth. In another, they are clad in safari suits, navigating jungles inhabited by elephants and tigers. Elsewhere, a treasure chest appears with Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy at the forefront.
The Treasure Chest; 48 x 60 in (122 x 152.4 cm) High-gloss oil on canvas 2024 | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Spring season celebrated at Ramakrishna Mission Institute, Kolkata, with ‘Evening of Basant’
The Spirit of the Land, a solo show by artist Shivakumar Sunagar, is a vista of Nature-inspired emotions
Tal Fry is all set for an exciting new performance season
Netflix is making a bold move by snagging InterPositive, the AI filmmaking company founded by Ben Affleck, in a deal that could hit $600 million
Watch the eerie trailer for 'Hokum,' where Adam Scott faces a witch haunting in a mysterious Irish inn.
Oscars 2026 security heightened amid FBI warnings of a potential Iranian drone threat ahead of the Hollywood ceremony.
Directed by Rahul Pandey, the series also stars Naila Grewal, Nidhi Bisht, Anant Joshi, Anjum Batra and Kusha Kapila
A tribute to the versatile actor and comedian V.K. Ramasamy in his birth centenary year.
‘One Piece’ Season 2 review: As the Straw Hats enter the Grand Line, Netflix’s live-action adaptation finds its sea legs with bigger islands, stranger villains and the same stretch-happy sense of boundless adventure
Geeta Gandbhir, the Indian-origin American filmmaker is waves at this year’s Oscars with not one, but two nominations. Her documentaries, ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ and ‘The Devil is Busy’ are in the race for the Academy Award
Directed by filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Krishen, the film follows a group of "dope-smoking, bellbottom-wearing and vaguely idealistic" final-year students racing to complete their theses.
Alan Ritchson powers through 'War Machine', a lean sci-fi action thriller on Netflix. A competent, Reacher-style chase adventure with nonstop tension and solid set pieces
Explore the Unshelving Memories exhibition in Thiruvananthapuram, showcasing diverse book art by 61 talented artists until March 15.