Untitled, from the series, Jannat

Object Details

• Artist

  Gauri Gill (India, born 1970)

• Printer

  Black and White on White, Inc.

• Edition/State

  3/5

• Provenance

  2016

  Gauri Gill (b. 1970) [1]

  From 2016

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, acquired from the artist, Gauri Gill [2]

  Notes:

  [1] The series “Jannat” by the artist Gauri Gill consists of 44 black and white photographs and 8 facsimile letters. In 2014, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased edition number 3 of 5 of Gauri Gill’s series “Jannat.” See Arthur M. Sackler Gallery “Acquisition Consideration Form,” marked as approved on October 20, 2014, copy in object file for S2014.15.1-.52. See also invoice from Thomas Erben Gallery to Bruce Young, Registrar, dated September 19, 2014, copy in 2014 object file. See also Smithsonian Institution “Purchase Order” to Thomas Erben Gallery, Inc., dated November 12, 2014, copy in 2014 object file. The artist’s name is incorrect on the invoice and the “Purchase Order.”

  [2] In May 2016, Gill expressed her wish to replace the 44 black and white photographs in Sackler’s edition with a set that more accurately represents her intention for the work. See “Curatorial Justification for Replacement,” undated (ca. 2016), copy in object file.

  According to the artist’s wishes, Black and White on White, Inc., in Brooklyn, NY, printed the replacement set of photographs, which were delivered to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on June 23, 2016. See email from Bruce Young, Registrar, to Sergio Purtell, Black and White on White, Inc., with the subject “New set of Gauri Gill ‘Jannat’ photographs,” dated June 23, 2016. This replacement was signed by the artists and editioned by her as edition number 3 of 5.

  Also, according to the artist’s wishes, the set of 44 photographs acquired in 2014 were then destroyed on February 24, 2017, but the 8 facsimile letters were to be retained. See untitled and undated memo in object file.

  See emails between Gauri Gill and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery staff, copies in object file.

  [2] Acquisition of the replacement set of 44 photographs was approved on September 29, 2016, and more accurately represents the artist's intention for the work. See Arthur M. Sackler Gallery “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on September 29, 2016, copy in object file.

  For the other works in this series, see: S2014.15.1, S2014.15.2, S2014.15.11, S2014.15.21, S2014.15.29, S2014.15.36, S2014.15.43, and S2014.15.48.

  Research updated March 3, 2023

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Notes from the Desert: Photographs by Gauri Gill (September 17, 2016 to February 12, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Gauri Gill (India, born 1970)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Photograph

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  2000s, 1990s

• Name

  Gill, Gauri

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Contemporary Art, Art, Boy, Girl

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Photographs