Chitra Ganesh in Conversation: Students Shape the Collection

Event Date: Wednesday, November 5 · 6 - 7:30pm CST

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS: 5 PM-6 PM

PUBLIC PROGRAM: 6 PM-7:30 PM

Join us to celebrate the 2024–25 Student Acquisition: two works from She the Question, a series of prints by artist Chitra Ganesh, originally published as a 24-page comic book. Known for her subversive visual language, Ganesh draws from pop culture, science fiction, mythology, and Indian visual traditions to challenge dominant narratives around gender, sexuality, and power.

Ganesh will be joined in conversation by assistant professor Lakshmi Padmanabhan (Northwestern, Radio/TV/Film) for a discussion on imagining against caste and patriarchy, exploring the connections between Ganesh’s practice, Indian pulp fiction, and popular cinema. The conversation will be moderated by Laura Brueck (Northwestern, South Asian and Comparative Literature; Director, Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities). A member of The Block Museum Student Associates will offer a brief introduction to the student-led acquisition process.

Each year, The Block Museum Student Associates (BMSAs)—an interdisciplinary group of Northwestern undergraduates—study museum collecting practices and recommend works of art for acquisition that invite reflection, inquiry, and discussion. Learn more about the 2024–25 acquisition and hear directly from students about their selection.

Selections from She the Question are currently on view in The Block Collects. Block Museum Student Associates will be available in the galleries before and after the program to discuss their acquisition. There will be a light reception from 5 pm-6 pm, preceding the public program.  The galleries will remain open until 8:00 PM.

Participation level – light, visitors may choose to participate in the  Q&A at the close of the program.

Programs are open to all, on a first-come first-served basis. RSVPs are not required, but are appreciated.  

JOIN FOR FREE