The free exhibition is part of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program’s latest installment in the U.S. Bank Gallery
November 7, 2024
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) invites visitors to step into a world of wonder with “रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine,” an immersive exhibition by Minneapolis-based artist Roshan Ganu. Opening November 23, 2024, and running through February 23, 2025, in Mia’s U.S. Bank Gallery, this exhibition marks a highlight in the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP), which showcases groundbreaking Minnesota artists.
Ganu transforms a 2,500-square-foot gallery into an enchanting nighttime realm. Visitors will be enveloped by mesmerizing visuals of Ganu’s immersive films, projected onto the walls, ceiling, and mirrored surfaces, disrupting traditional gallery boundaries. Ganu also presents three colorful paintings and ceramic figures that bring the landscapes of her native Goa, India, to Minnesota.
Drawing from mythology, Ganu reimagines the story of Narakasura, a demon king whose effigy is burned on the eve of Diwali. While the nighttime often holds themes of fear or restriction, especially for women in India, Ganu reclaims it as a time of liberation and transformation. Her paintings showcase Goa’s banyan trees, vivid red earth, and the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine, guiding viewers on a sensory journey across cultures and continents. Her pieces are in English and Marathi and reflect an ongoing dialogue with her heritage and personal journey.
“Ganu has an ability to magically transform white box galleries into an ethereal place,” said Nicole E. Soukup, Supervisor of the MAEP. “The experience left me asking, as a woman, why do I not feel safe to explore the night? Although our answers may often reflect social expectations, Ganu inspires us to reflect deeply and boldly, encouraging contemplation without judgment.”
Ganu noted, “This exhibition also reflects on memories and embodied experiences that soothe states of loneliness, an integral part of being in a foreign land. They reconnect us to our roots while building a sense of belonging and appreciation for this place—allowing me to spread outward indefinitely.”
“रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine” is an invitation to break from the ordinary, find beauty in the unknown, and experience a Minnesota artist’s journey of place, memory, and dreams. Join us in Mia’s U.S. Bank Gallery to explore this extraordinary blend of storytelling, myth, and sensory art that offers an escape from the everyday and an opportunity to reflect on our own journeys.
For more information on “रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine” and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About Roshan Ganu
Roshan Ganu is a multimedia narrative artist who seeks to recontextualize history, culture, and biography into dynamic and immersive experiences. She received the Jerome Early Career Award in 2022 and was recently in residence as part of the Out of the Circle, Cairo, Egypt. She has exhibited widely across the region, including exhibitions at Franconia, Rochester Art Center, and SooVisual Arts Center. She received her MFA, MCAD (2020), and MA in French Linguistics and Translation from the University of Pune, India (2016), and BA in Journalism and Communication from Manipal University, India (2010).
About the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)
The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) is an artist-led program at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Founded in 1975 as a yearlong partnership between the museum and regional artists, it has become a unique, ongoing relationship lasting fifty years. Today, the MAEP presents exhibitions in the 2,500-square-foot U.S. Bank Gallery. Support for MAEP is provided by RBC Wealth Management.
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit new.artsmia.org.