Whispering Rocks invites us to reimagine preservation not as nostalgia but as an act of radical, collective reclamation. If the rocks could speak, what would they say?
‘Whispering Rocks – The Deccan Legacy ‘ art installations and performance by 26 artists – Preview at Forestreck Park, Narsingi at 10 am
Initiated by ICONART Gallery – From 13th to 22nd April 2025 – the primordial landscapes of Forestreck Park, Narsingi, will host and display artistic expressions of 25 visual artists. The Exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Society to Save Rocks , INTACH Hyderabad Chapter, Telangana Photography Society, Nature Lovers of Hyderabad , Akshara Ananda and FridayWall
In the heart of Hyderabad, amidst the bustling urban sprawl, lie ancient sentinels of time—the Deccan rocks. These geological marvels, millions of years old, have stood witness to the ebb and flow of civilizations, the rise and fall of empires, and the relentless march of time. They are not mere stones; they are storytellers, whispering tales of the Earth’s primordial past, of a time when life itself was finding its footing on this planet.
Twenty-Five visionary artists have come together to breathe life into these ancient formations, using eco-friendly materials to create installations that harmonize with the rocks rather than overshadow them. Their works are not just art; they are meditations on the interplay between humanity and nature, on the urgent need to preserve what we often take for granted. Each installation is a whisper, a gentle nudge to pause, reflect, and listen to the stories these rocks have to tell.
Rekha Reddy’s Ikebana Arrangement
The art works installed at the amazing rockscapes of Forestrek Park converge to breathe life into the ancient narratives of the Deccan, weaving their intimate reflections on heritage, ecology, and the human apathy. This exhibition is a symphony of voices—painters, sculptors, poets, handloom weavers, and Ikebana practitioners—united in their quest to interrogate preservation, identity, and our fragile relationship with the Earth.
Through installations, sculptures, performances, textiles, poetry, and Ikebana, the artists convey the pulse with urgency, confronting themes of feminism, societal structures, isolation, climate crises, and urban metamorphosis. Here, rocks become storytellers—witnesses to time, erosion, and resilience.
The artists’ multidisciplinary practices blur boundaries as handloom weavers intertwine threads of tradition with modern dissent; poets etch verses into stone and air; Ikebana masters sculpt transience into botanical meditations. Each piece—whether a woven rebellion, a performance of vulnerability, or a chameleon shaped clay fragment , a scaffolding of a urban structure , or prayer flags — these installations become a conduit for dialogue between past and present, memory and metamorphosis.
“Whispering Rocks – The Deccan Legacy” is more than an exhibition; it is a dialogue between the past and the present, a call to awaken our collective consciousness to the fragile beauty of our natural heritage. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, our connection to the Earth and its ancient wisdom often fades into the background. This exhibition seeks to rekindle that connection, to remind us that these rocks are not just relics of a bygone era but living testaments to the resilience and grandeur of nature.
Whispering Rocks invites us to reimagine preservation not as nostalgia but as an act of radical, collective reclamation. If the rocks could speak, what would they say? Perhaps they would lament the encroaching urban sprawl, the relentless quarrying, and the disregard for their historical and ecological significance. Or perhaps they would offer wisdom, urging us to slow down, to contemplate our place in the grand tapestry of time, and to recognize that our actions today will echo far into the future.
The burden on the Star Tortoise that thrive s in the Deccan Rocks – installation by Ramesh Baikani
This exhibition is a celebration of the Deccan’s geological and cultural legacy, but it is also a plea—a plea to protect these ancient formations from the ravages of urbanization, to honor their heritage value, and to ensure that they continue to inspire awe and wonder for generations to come. Let us listen to their whispers, for in their silence lies a profound message: the Earth is not just a resource to be exploited but a legacy to be cherished, says curator Avani Rao Gandra.
Whispering Rocks – The Deccan Legacy – Event Schedule
Walk and Talk
On April 22 ( Earth day ) at 8.00 am there will a walk and talk by Sadhana Ramchander and Kobita Das Kolli on ‘The Flora and Fauna among Deccan Rocks .
Photography Exhibition at ICONART Gallery
Preview on 2 nd May
On till 20th May 2025
The exhibition at ICONART Gallery will feature photographs of Deccan Rockscapes by Vishwender Reddy Kommidi , L. Vishwanatham . Madhugopal Rao .R , Srikanth Nippatla and Ashok Vootla
The show will display photographic documentation of the installations by the Telangana Photography Society, capturing the dialogue between Art and the Rockscapes at Forestrek, along with fragments of the installations
Whispering Rocks Gallery:
A poem on the Rocks by Dr.Sanjana Saxena
Installation by Lakshmi Reddy
Messages from extinct birds – art installation by Subhashini
The city engulfing the Rock – installation by Sukalyan Dutta
