Suryakant Lokhande’s #EveryDayIsCheatDay explores Disney nostalgia and consumer desire at ICIA Gallery, Mumbai

An arresting narrative of everything, something, and nothing (not necessarily in that same order) invites viewers at Mumbai’s Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA) Gallery into a fascinatingly off-kilter series of 10 artworks by contemporary artist Suryakant Lokhande. The solo exhibition, titled #EveryDayIsCheatDay, by AstaGuru Auction House and ICIA, contextualises the thematic undertone of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play Waiting for Godot through a visual grammar that is striking, nostalgic, colourful, and animated.

Using Disney characters — from Uncle Scrooge to Mickey Mouse — Suryakant stages an illusion of allure that pulls viewers back to the 6pm Disney Hour, a dopamine-rich television staple of millennial childhood. What initially appears almost therapeutic — a reminder of good times — slowly mutates into a guilty pleasure (think screen time stretching past homework and sleep deadlines), before metamorphosing into a garish carousel of desire and aspiration. The works evoke ticketed rollercoaster rides at Disneyland, privileges contingent on travel visas and a solid bank balance. An inner dialogue unfolds as the viewer engages with the aesthetics on display.