A mechanical broom wielded by a robotic arm sweeps across the floor under the corner of a custom-made carpet shaped like India. In an adjoining room, an enormous inflatable Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man lies face-down adjacent to a neon sign which reads “DIASPORA.” A small display of Sunday funnies-style cartoons with nuclear explosions in their backgrounds ring the walls. If you read the previous sentences, you now correctly understand the sum total of content in this exhibition. The actual execution adds virtually nothing to the concept. Perhaps Mehra’s intent is to render the evils of capitalism in a banal way, but this type of irony is nothing new.

*A previous version of this review misidentified the character represented in the show and included the word”oriental” to describe the style of carpet, and has been updated. 

Divya Mehra: The End of You
Night Gallery
2276 E. 16th St.,
Los Angeles, CA 90021
On view through October 19, 2024