"Call Me By Your Name is an exploration of love in its many forms. It questions the status quo, and it attempts to erase labels. It accepts love in its multiple facets and in doing so attempts to infuse positivity in a time when a relationship of one kind or another, is our only panacea."
– Udit Bhambri
The puzzles of love involve two master components: the self and the other, which are a kind of couple. It’s in our nature to acknowledge ourselves in or with some kind of other-hood, so much so that companionship, even when experienced alone, becomes a kind of love. The truth of our times is that any collective identity of ‘we’ is laden with individualities and so in contemporary relationships, we often find we’re living both selfishly and selflessly, acting resilient through constant compromise while balancing self-indulgence with self-sacrifice.
‘Call Me By Your Name’ asks the question – who completes us? While some shout out togetherness more demonstratively, others whisper in hushed tones – but what of this shared need to title it, engrave it, qualify it? In spite of our transiency and love’s transfigurations, coupled with a kindred hope to celebrate its imperishability, why do some relationships struggle more with naming and why are so many kinds of relationships still unnamed? This exhibition at Vadehra Art Gallery is conceptualized by art collector Udit Bhambri, as an ode to the complex make-up of contemporary relationships while exploring the linguistics, imagery and signification of love through expanded notions of coupledom.
Bhambri says, “We live in unprecedented times – where social distancing is often more comforting than a hug. Relationships have been redefined by the pandemic, and today more than ever, we witness the true power of self-love, the genuine comfort of companionship, the thrill of reconnecting with an ex-lover and the satisfaction of reigniting our own latent passion. Call Me By Your Name is an exploration of love in its many forms. It questions the status quo, and it attempts to erase labels. It accepts love in its multiple facets and in doing so attempts to infuse positivity in a time when a relationship of one kind or another, is our only panacea.”
While the show is on view at the gallery, where we’re undertaking strict health, sanitization and social distancing measures to ensure the safety of our visitors, we’re happy to be able to make engaging with the show a virtual possibility as well. To do so, we’re embracing a new immersive 3D digital technology experience via Matterport on our website, which offers a multi-dimensional mapping of the show.
