The modern nation-states of South Asia were born from rupture—but in the archives of memory and migration, the region exists not as a divided bloc, but as a shared terrain of gestures, urgencies, and expression. We Were Always Neighbours begins from that understanding. It is not a regional showcase; it is a quiet act of resistance against the idea that identities must be defined by the lines drawn between us. It is an offering from a region constantly in tension, yet bound together by shared imaginaries, histories, griefs, and radical acts of making.
Curated by Sahil Arora (Gallery Director, Method) for Asia NOW 2025, at the Monnaie de Paris from October 21 to 26, We Were Always Neighbours brings together emerging artists from India and Pakistan into a common space of artistic and cultural kinship. It proposes a borderless corridor, one shaped not by politics or policy, but by gesture, form, and the desire to speak across imposed silence. The title holds a truth so obvious it feels radical: that before we were divided, we were connected. It is this sentiment the project seeks to translate into a living, breathing section of the Monnaie de Paris—through painting, sculpture, and installation.
The Corridor in the fair’s Third Space section brings together the intimate, the surreal, and the symbolic through the works of Fatima Kaleem and Shamir Iqtidar from Pakistan; and Shivangi Kalra, Gargi Chandola, Darshika Singh, and Viraj Khanna from India. Through paintings and small sculptures, these artists chart internal geographies—feminine spaces, ornamentation, mythologies, and acts of quiet resistance—forming a layered, plural cartography of neighbouring imaginaries.
Beyond the gallery walls, site-specific installations unfold across the Monnaie de Paris. Works by Tarini Sethi, Sehaj Malik, Kunel Gaur, Mohd. Intiyaz, Sajid Wajid Shaikh, and Jibran Shahid respond to the site through architectural memory, gesture, material, and scale—turning corridors and courtyards into spaces of both disruption and reflection. Many of the works will arrive folded in—unstretched canvases, drawings on paper, and small, portable objects that carry within them the intimacy of handwork and the urgency of youth. Others will be larger and site-specific, created in collaboration with like-minded galleries across the region. Some will be ephemeral: bodies in motion, rituals of sound, live gestures that exist only in the moment and leave no trace.
This curated project also reflects the collaborative spirit at the heart of Method’s practice. Several artists are presented in association with like-minded spaces across the globe, including Rajiv Menon Contemporary (Los Angeles), Tao Art Gallery (Mumbai), and Art Manzil (nomadic)—extending the conversation beyond geography, into networks of support, dialogue, and co-imagination.
France, with its long and often overlooked history of engagement with South Asia—through film, diplomacy, literature, and cultural exchange—has maintained a capacity to hold dialogue even when formal politics fall silent. From the days of Pondicherry to the present, it has hosted artists, writers, and thinkers from across the subcontinent, creating room for plurality to unfold in public view. We Were Always Neighbours continues in this spirit. It gathers emerging practices that speak many languages—visually, politically, emotionally—yet carry within them a shared impulse: to reach across borders and remain in relation.
Sahil Arora, founder of Method, notes:
“We Were Always Neighbours is rooted in an ethos of connection—across borders, across practices, across disciplines. Asia Now’s commitment to host a presentation of this nature, with a spotlight on young emerging voices is remarkable and a refreshing change from traditional industry practices.”
Participating Artists
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Ammama Malik (Pakistan)
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Darshika Singh (India)
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Fatima Kaleem Khan (Pakistan)
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Gargi Chandola (India)
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Jibran Shahid (Pakistan)
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Kunel Gaur (India)
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Mohd. Intiyaz (India)
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Sajid Wajid Shaikh (India)
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Sehaj Malik (India)
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Shamir Iqtidar (Pakistan)
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Shivangi Kalra (India)
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Tarini Sethi (India) (via Rajeev Menon Contemporary)
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Tazeen Fatima (Pakistan) (via Art Manzil)
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Viraj Khanna (India) (via Tao Art Gallery)
About Method
“The Revolution introduced me to art, and in turn art introduced me to the Revolution!” – Albert Einstein
Whether Einstein was referring to a political awakening or a scientific upheaval, one thing is certain: art and the act of breaking away are fundamentally entwined. Method is a space that embraces both introspection and “extrospection”—a way of engaging deeply with the self while also reaching outward into the cultural, political, and sensory ecosystems that shape our time. We believe that art is not just about creation but about conversation, transformation, and the continuous undoing of form and certainty. To create is to take a position—fluid, shifting, and alive.
At its core, Method is committed to nurturing young and emerging practices. Our programming focuses on giving artists a platform at early stages of their careers—offering visibility, critical engagement, and a space to take risks. We prioritise fresh voices that challenge conventional narratives and expand the scope of contemporary art across disciplines, mediums, and contexts. With galleries in Mumbai and New Delhi, Method operates as a dynamic ecosystem for experimentation, conversation, and collaboration. We champion practices that are conceptual, community-rooted, and bold in their departure from norms—regularly dissolving boundaries between the visual, performative, digital, and material.
Over the years, Method has grown beyond the physical space to become a platform for dialogue and discovery. We have participated in major national and international art fairs such as India Art Fair, Art Mumbai, and ARCO Lisboa, and continue to forge collaborations with artists, collectives, and institutions across geographies. Method is less about arriving at answers and more about facilitating open-ended inquiries. We see ourselves as a space of friction and fluidity—where experimentation is encouraged, multiplicity is celebrated, and the revolution of thought, feeling, and form is always underway.
Exhibition Details
Date: 21st to 26th October, 2025
Venue: Monnaie de Paris
