Bharti Kher: Alchemies Exhibition Catalogue

A celebration of diversity, discovery and personal identity. Displayed in the Underground Gallery and surrounding gardens, Alchemies was an unmissable, powerful exhibition of sculpture and 2D work by one of the world’s leading contemporary artists.

The title of the exhibition refers to Alchemy – an ancient practice that included trying to change ordinary metal into gold, and Bharti Kher’s work has these ideas of magical transformation at its heart.

Mythology plays an essential role and is a major source of inspiration. Stories of imagined creatures and spirits who live between worlds, bodies and time align perfectly with Kher’s thinking. She blurs boundaries between animals, humans, nature and objects. The results are often hybrid beings that combine the everyday with the imaginary and the extraordinary. When visiting the light-filled indoor gallery you will find a powerful group of hybrid figures gathered together – part women, part animals, part goddesses.

This fully comprehensive exhibition catalogue was created to coincide with the 2024 headline show Bharti Kher: Alchemies at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The catalogue features an interview between YSP's director, Clare Lilley and Bharti Kher, plus an essay by Hettie Judah.