Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Artist:
Gauri Gill (India, born 1970)  Search this
Printer:
Black and White on White, Inc.  Search this
Medium:
Selenium-toned gelatin silver print on paper
Dimensions:
H x W (image): 10 × 15 cm (3 15/16 × 5 7/8 in)
H x W (sheet): 12.7 × 17.8 cm (5 × 7 in)
Type:
Photograph
Origin:
India
Date:
1999-2007, printed 2016
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)
Topic:
India  Search this
South Asian and Himalayan Art  Search this
girl  Search this
Contemporary Art  Search this
Credit Line:
Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art
Accession Number:
S2016.24.12
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Data Source:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye383772dc4-393d-477e-8e22-2e549a70a72b
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:fsg_S2016.24.12