WHO OWNS THE WATER?
WHO OWNS THE WATER? is an ongoing, site-specific work that takes on different forms depending on its location. At Nirox Sculpture Park, the work engages with the Blaauwbankspruit River, the main source of water for the region, now heavily contaminated with industrial effluents. During my visit last year, I was struck by the river’s condition. At first, it seemed like a sewer—but on inquiry, I learned it is the primary river in the region, now bearing the brunt of unchecked industrialisation. The sight of the polluted water stirred an urgent desire to respond to its condition.
In this work, I float the question on the river itself: “WHO OWNS THE WATER?” The letters drift atop the river as if shouting back at those who claim dominion, asserting that the river cannot be owned. Through this simple yet direct gesture, the work draws attention to the ecological and ethical crises surrounding water, highlighting the tension between human exploitation and nature’s sovereignty.
Vibha Galhotra (IN)
Vibha Galhotra (b.1978) is a conceptual artist based in Delhi, India, whose multidisciplinary practice explores the complex interplay between humans and the environment in an era defined by climate change, globalisation, capitalism, and consumerism. Working across sculpture, installation, photography, video, site-specific interventions, and public art, Galhotra interrogates the shifting ecological and cultural landscapes of the Anthropocene. Her work reflects deep research and poetic imagination, drawing from ecology, economics, spirituality, and activism to address issues of urbanisation, environmental degradation, and societal transformation.
Galhotra frequently uses evocative materials—such as ghungroos (ankle bells), rubble, fabric, and industrial remnants—to create metaphors of resilience, fragility, and renewal. Her art reconfigures everyday elements into immersive experiences that reflect the consequences of unchecked development and ecological collapse. Internationally recognised, her work has been exhibited at institutions such as the Asia Society (New York), Martin Gropius Bau (Berlin), Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (Delhi), and Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg. She has held solo shows at Jack Shainman Gallery (New York), Goodman Gallery (London), and NatureMorte (India). Galhotra’s accolades include the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency and Asia Arts Future Award.
Her works are held in major collections worldwide, including the Nirox Sculpture Park, Seattle Art Museum, Singapore Art Museum, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Essl Museum, Gates Foundation, and The Margulies Collection.
