Cathy's Art Diary

Interesting exhibition at Tate Britain featuring a video installation by Hylozoic/Desires. Hylozoic/Desires are two artists Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser and in this work they examine the legacy of the Salt Line, a planted hedge grown by the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent between 1840 and 1880 which separated the British-occupied Bengal Presidency from independent states to prevent smuggling and enforce the British monopoly on salt. The work consisted of a video, interesting display on the floor, which you viewed from a platform, alongside a piece of scenery used in the video. It was beautifully filmed and blended archive material and an imagined narrative. I had seen another work on the same theme by these artists at Somerset House earlier this year so this added to that experience. Closed 25 August 2025

Confusing exhibition at Somerset House by Hylozoic/Desires (Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser) exploring the complex subject of Britain’s imperial salt monopoly in India. The show marks the refurbishment of the Salt Stairs which ran through the Salt Office which oversaw the national interest in salt. I say confusing as it helps to view the installation in the courtyard first as that is where the concept of the Inland Customs Line, a monumental 2500 mile-long ‘hedge’ composed of living vegetation created by the British to enforce salt taxation during colonial rule, was explained. Downstairs they just referred to this as the hedge which confused me and left me imagining a hedge catching salt. Downstairs there was an AI generated video to try to recreate the hedge from texts as no images of it exist. I’ll admit I’m not sure I understood. I did however like the archive display in what had been one of the offices which did flesh out the history a lot more. Closed 27 April...