The tables have turned A shadow playNalini MalaniNone

  • Painting mediumInstallation Art
  • Medium typeInstallation
  • Art movementContemporary Art
  • Art periodContemporary
  • MuseumBiennale of Sydney
Although Nalini Malani’s practice encompasses a variety of media, including painting, drawing and installation, she is respected as one of India’s first-generation video artists, and for her high sense of awareness regarding social issues and history. Malani’s shadow play installations, including ‘The tables have turned’ A shadow play (2008), expand on the layering that appears in her paintings and drawings. The artist paints on transparent, rotating cylinders onto which light is projected, filling the room with shadows. Referencing Buddhist prayer wheels whose rotations express a desire for change, the cylinders’ revolutions and images build up a narrative of epic proportions that appears and vanishes simultaneously. Accompanied by music and text, the historical, cultural, personal and psychological elements combine to present allegories of political and ecological dangers, with images recalling the horrors of war, the industrial revolution, and the utopia/dystopia that followed. ‘The tables have turned’ A shadow play was presented in an Air Raid Shelter on Cockatoo Island, for the 16th Biennale of Sydney (2008).

Nalini Malani (1946 –)

Nalini Malani is a pioneering Indian artist renowned for her innovative video art, installations & paintings exploring themes of identity, displacement, feminism, and the Partition of India. Her work features stop motion & reverse painting techniques.

Biennale of Sydney (Sydney, Australia)

As Australia's premier contemporary art festival, the Biennale of Sydney offers transformative thematic exhibitions across iconic city venues that provoke critical reflection, inviting you to explore global artistic innovation.

About this artwork

  • Title: The tables have turned A shadow play
  • Artist: Nalini Malani
  • Format: Landscape
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Where to see it: Biennale of Sydney
  • Movement: Contemporary Art
  • Medium: Installation Art
  • Medium type: Installation
  • Creative period: Mature Period
  • Keywords: complex composition, rotating cylinders, cinematic shadows

Quick Facts

  • Medium: Shadow play installation on rotating cylinders
  • Artist: Nalini Malani
  • Notable elements or techniques: Light projection, rotating cylinders, shadows
  • Year: 2008
  • Subject or theme: Political and ecological dangers, war, history

Questions & Answers

From which era does "The tables have turned A shadow play" date?

"The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani dates from the Contemporary period. The period gives the historical context of the work.

How strong is the contrast in "The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani?

"The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani shows a statement contrast between its light and dark areas.

Who is the author of "The tables have turned A shadow play", and in which movement?

Nalini Malani created "The tables have turned A shadow play" within the Contemporary Art movement.

Which artist is "The tables have turned A shadow play" attributed to?

"The tables have turned A shadow play" was created by Nalini Malani. The information on this page describes Nalini Malani's original work.

Which artistic current is "The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani part of?

"The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani belongs to the Contemporary Art movement. This movement provides the stylistic context of the work.

What is the format of "The tables have turned A shadow play"?

The format of "The tables have turned A shadow play" is landscape. This is useful when planning where a reproduction will be placed.

Where can I see the original "The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani?

"The tables have turned A shadow play" by Nalini Malani is on display at the Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. The museum listing refers to the original work, not to reproductions.

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