Target Queen

Bharti Kher’s Target Queen is made up of boldly coloured large target-like motifs, each measuring three metres in diameter, that cover two sides of the brutalist exterior of the Hayward Gallery.

In this commissioned piece, Kher references the bindi, which is worn by South Asian women as a cultural and spiritual marker representing the third eye. The mural transforms the bindi into a powerful emblem for the Mother goddess, embedding both spiritual resonance and a feminine energy into the brutalist building. The concentric circle that also features becomes a potent motif that not only reflects a cosmic vision but also explores the cyclical nature of life, capturing the interplay between creation and dissolution.

Kher’s artistic practice is renowned for how it explores the boundaries between humanity and nature, ecology and politics. Her sculptures are often crafted from found objects that carry their own histories. These objects are precariously assembled, often hung, propped and suspended, and are stripped of their conventional meanings, leaving them open to reinterpretation and enchantment. The resulting works are alluring, abstract compositions that challenge and captivate, reflecting a world filled with abstract beauty and latent magic.

Target Queen is generously supported by the Hayward Gallery Commissioning Committee, Kate and Ajay Agarwal, and Hauser & Wirth.

Curated by Anusha Mistry, supported by Rachel Thomas