Mumbai artist Bina Aziz curates Alchemy of Light with eight contemporary artists | Mumbai News
An upcoming exhibition in Worli, ‘Alchemy of Light,’ will showcase eight artists exploring metal leafing techniques from April 12 to May 11, 2026. Curated by Bina Aziz, the show features artists like Arzan Khambatta and Laila Khan, who use gold, silver, and copper leaf to create works that dynamically respond to light, highlighting texture, fragility, and renewal.
A luminous exploration of material, texture and inner expression is set to unfold in the city next month, as eight artists come together for a unique exhibition titled ‘Alchemy of Light’. Scheduled from April 12 to May 11, 2026, the show will be held in Worli and promises to be a first-of-its-kind showcase centred on the intricate technique of metal leafing. Curated by artist Bina Aziz, the exhibition brings together a diverse roster of creators including Arzan Khambatta, Venkatesh Pate, Sharvari Luth, Archana Srivastava, Laila Khan, Jaya Lamba and Shola Carletti, each interpreting the theme through their own visual language. A SHARED LANGUAGE OF LIGHT AND METAL At the heart of ‘Alchemy of Light’ lies the transformative quality of metal leafing, using gold, silver, copper and champagne finishes to create works that respond dynamically to light. “Each artist brings their own aura, their own creativity and their own colour to the canvas and the art that glitters here is, in essence, gold,” says curator Bina Aziz, describing the conceptual core of the show. “The materials, provided by Shehzad Khan, have enabled artists to experiment with a wide spectrum of tones and textures. The use of gold, silver, copper and champagne leafing brings a sense of opulence while allowing the works to remain fluid and alive, shifting with perspective and light itself,” Bina adds. EXPERIMENTATION ACROSS MEDIUMS For sculptor Arzan Khambatta, the exhibition marks yet another step in an ongoing journey of creative exploration. “Every creative show like this is a starting point for me… if you have done something and you love it, it becomes the beginning of many more works,” he says. His pieces for the show combine wood, resin, metal and leafing, resulting in layered, tactile forms. Meanwhile, artist Laila Khan approaches the theme from a more introspective space. “A painting or sculpture represents the inner being of an artist over many days. I am working towards an inner flame where materials like gold leaf reflect light. Through meditation and quiet depth, I am trying to bring that luminosity into my work,” she explains, adding that gold leafing lends a sense of sacredness to Indian art traditions. TEXTURE, FRAGILITY AND RENEWALHosting the exhibition at Les Trésors Art Gallery, artist Archana Srivastava, has spent months developing the concept alongside Bina. “We both have discussed the concept for the last few months. This is the first exhibition using gold leafing in my gallery, and I am excited about it,” she says. Her own series, titled ‘Broken Yet Blossoming’, explores contrasts, juxtaposing the rough texture of jute with the smooth sheen of gold. “We are all broken in some way, yet there is immense potential to blossom,” she reflects. ART THAT SHIFTS WITH LIGHT What sets ‘Alchemy of Light’ apart is not just its material focus but its interaction with the viewer. As light falls on each piece, surfaces shimmer, shift and transform, making the experience fluid and ever-changing. With its blend of introspection, experimentation and visual opulence, the exhibition aims to offer audiences more than just a viewing, it invites them into a dialogue with light itself. As Mumbai’s art calendar gears up for the summer, ‘Alchemy of Light’ promises to stand out as a radiant confluence of creativity, material innovation and spiritual depth.
