The Inconsistency of Everything

Harminder Singh Judge describes himself as an artist trapped in a perpetual love triangle with religion, art and pop culture. Over the last four years, Judge has developed an interdisciplinary practice obsessed with romanticised fables within religious history, exploring the enduring appeal of spirituality within our postmodern and largely secular society.

He has a deep interest in the visual and conceptual mixing of religious mythologies with personal experience, pop culture and folklore. Judge also has a keen interest in the meeting point of East and West, both in culture and history, and how one can often exoticise and misinterpret the other.

“I always keep one eye on my personal history as a British born Sikh who loves rock music and Red Dwarf whilst also being genuinely fascinated and intrigued by the epic stories of religious history. I would site religious symbolism, mass conversion and the rituals of cults among my many influences, as well as Norwegian Death Metal, Gold Top Milk & Buddha.” – Harminder Singh Judge

For New Art Exchange, Judge has created a culturally re-mixed installation incorporating conceptual links to Cain and Abel, The Land of Nod, John the Revelator, Kurt Cobain, Ganesh, Gene Simmons, Kali, Milk, and Robert Johnson. Alongside the exhibition Judge also brings his new performance installation, entitled The Modes of Al-Ikseer to the gallery as a one off event.

The Modes of Al-Ikseer is a forty-five minute long show fusing contemporary pop culture, advertising aesthetic and tongue in cheek humour with epic symbolic imagery. It observes and locates the place of ancient religious symbolism and mythology into a world obsessed with capitalism, celebrity and marketing gimmicks. The work takes its basis from a Hindu myth concerning the creation of Amrit (the holy nectar of immortality) and Judge’s love of 80’s electro pop giants Depeche Mode.

A partnership between New Art Exchange and 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, the exhibition has been curated by Nottingham-based artist, Michael Forbes. The exhibition and accompanying events and educational programme will explore the themes around Judge’s work. The programme includes special talks, performances and workshops.