Delhi-based artist Santanu Dey is presenting a powerful environmental message through his latest solo exhibition "Silent Spring," currently on display at Shridharani Gallery in Delhi's Triveni Kala Sangam. The exhibition, which runs until September 22, transforms discarded materials from modern urban life—including leaves, scrap metal, paper, and electronic waste—into a haunting meditation on environmental decay and the consequences of unchecked human consumption.

"Humne saari hadein paar kardi hain: we have crossed all limits," Dey states about his ongoing exhibition, which directly confronts pressing environmental issues through artistic expression. The artist works with an extensive range of materials including paper, electronic waste such as screws and bolts, wood, aluminum litho-plates, and graphite, among others. His practice interrogates themes such as the unregulated exploitation of natural resources and the devastating consequences of unchecked consumerism on our planet.

The exhibition's title draws inspiration from marine biologist Rachel Carson's seminal 1962 book "Silent Spring," which exposed the environmental damage caused by pesticides. "For the past few years, I've been working with the idea of spring—typically associated with color, vibrancy, and renewal," Dey explains. "But in my work, I don't depict these things. I focus on how human activity is destroying our environment. Through my art, I want to show what we are doing to our surroundings, what kind of footprints we are leaving behind for future generations. That's why my spring is silent."

One of the exhibition's key works, titled "Witness," consists of a series of smaller canvases composed of abstract visuals and layered paper connected by pencil lines. Through this piece, Dey paints a stark portrait of the destruction of the Yamuna River and the stories that surround it. "Everywhere, construction is ongoing. It's never-ending," he observes. "One side starts, another stops, then starts again—reconstruction, reconstruction, reconstruction. The cycle doesn't stop. It tells the story of the Yamuna—a small piece of land that remains, silently observing the chaos. We refuse to see it, to acknowledge it, but something is watching us."

Dey's artistic perspective has been shaped by his diverse urban experiences. Originally from Kolkata, he studied in Baroda before settling in Delhi, drawing from the varied urban landscapes he has inhabited throughout his life. "Each city has its own character—its people, their culture, the way they live, their daily rhythms—everything is different. Every city has its own vibration," he explains. However, the artist notes a disturbing trend toward uniformity creeping across India's urban centers: "I don't see much difference anymore. Whether it's a metro city or a smaller one, the walls are painted with the same departmental slogans, the same signs of careless development."

The artist's philosophy centers on raising awareness about the meaningless activities humans engage in daily. "I work with ecology, environment, and what is happening in our surroundings. Every day we are doing so many meaningless, unnecessary things in the name of living," Dey states. Through his art, he urges viewers to become more conscious of their actions and their impact on the environment.

Gayatri Singh, founder-director of Art Incept gallery, which is presenting Dey's second solo exhibition, observes significant evolution in the artist's work. "The most important aspect of his work is the diverse use of materials—from leaves, concrete, brick dust, metal, to used aluminum cans. He's really pushed the boundary in terms of discarded materials," Singh notes. "But I also feel he's become bolder in his expression. He's not as hesitant; he's more confident—and he's figured out a way of bringing hope into what is happening today. That, I think, is very important, because all of us are so busy seeing doom and disaster that hope really matters."

The exhibition represents more than just an artistic statement; it serves as a call to action for viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and their role in its preservation. By transforming waste materials into thought-provoking art, Dey demonstrates that even discarded objects can tell powerful stories about our collective impact on the planet. "Silent Spring" continues to be on view at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, Mandi House, with gallery hours starting at 11 AM onwards through September 22.