On 26 October 2024, Compton Verney will unveil Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Spectacular Diversions, a bold and immersive exhibition showcasing the vibrant and politically charged works of this celebrated artist. Renowned for her kaleidoscopic use of neon, printmaking, and mixed media, Burman’s art delves into themes of identity, culture, and resistance. Her creations are deeply influenced by her upbringing in Bootle, Merseyside, and her rich Punjabi-Hindu heritage. While the exhibition will focus on Burman’s most recent work, it also highlights the ongoing themes she has explored over four decades—challenging stereotypes, institutional racism, and fixed notions of British identity.
A centrepiece of the exhibition is Dad’s Ice Cream Van (2022), which will be displayed outdoors, adorned with Burman’s iconic neon tiger—a symbol of both nostalgia and defiance. The ice cream business, central to Burman’s personal history, reappears throughout her career, symbolizing continuity and resistance. Her early printmaking, which began in the 1960s, is revisited in new works that use her body as a canvas, addressing beauty standards, ageism, and the representation of South Asian women.
The exhibition will transform Compton Verney’s galleries with Burman’s eclectic mix of influences. Collages featuring Bollywood stars, self-portraits, folk heroines, and vibrant neon sculptures will burst from the walls. A customized Tuk Tuk, covered in shocking pink and embellished with trinkets, will display a screen showing some of Burman’s films, offering a visual journey from Bootle to Bollywood. The largest gallery will be illuminated with neon deities, animals, and mythological creatures, creating a luminous, dreamlike environment.
Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Spectacular Diversions will present Burman at her most inventive, reaffirming her role as a key figure in the Black British Art Movement. This exhibition not only celebrates her dynamic body of work but also underscores her longstanding commitment to confronting race, class, and gender issues. As curator Oli McCall notes, Burman is “at the height of her powers,” and this ambitious show is a testament to her boundary-pushing creativity.
The exhibition opens on 26 October 2024 and runs until 19 January 2025 at Compton Verney, offering a rare opportunity to experience the vibrant and multi-faceted world of one of contemporary British art’s most influential figures.
