Raqs Media Collective. Everything Else is Ordinary
Germany
Dusseldorf
2018
97
The Raqs Media Collective, founded in 1992 in New Delhi by Jeebesh Bagchi, Monica Narula, and Shuddhabrata Sengupta, operates at the intersection of contemporary art, historical inquiry, philosophical speculation, and political critique. Their work probes the fundamental, often elusive, concepts of time, language, and history, challenging linear narratives and fixed interpretations. Central to their practice is the interrogation of time — not merely as a measurable entity but as a force that governs societal rhythms, disciplines human life, and underpins capitalist structures. In works such as Escapement (2009) and Re-Run (2013), they explore how time shapes experience, asking what it means to measure time and how it intersects with space and history.
Why should you watch this?
The Raqs Media Collective’s exploration of time as a force shaping human experience offers a profound critique of how society functions under capitalism. Their works challenge traditional notions of time, revealing its role in regulating life and framing historical narratives. By dismantling these fixed interpretations, they invite audiences to rethink the ways time is measured, experienced, and manipulated. In doing so, their practice merges art, history, and philosophy, making their work a compelling reflection on the rhythms that shape our individual and collective existence.