Set in the art world, V. Sanjay Kumar’s melancholic yet playful novel, This Garden of Weeds, must be lauded for its timing. Its arrival coincides with the highlights of the culture season, including Art Mumbai, Madras Art Weekend, Serendipity Arts Festival, and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. This book urges readers to take a step back and reflect on what they are consuming and why.
The plot revolves around Maya, a “narcoholic” artist, whose death in Mumbai is a mystery not only to her daughter, Tara, but also to the police. Tara sets out to discover unknown parts of her mother’s story, wondering, “Was she ever in love with someone besides herself?” This curiosity takes her to Vadodara, where her mother received her training and honed her practice.
In the process of unravelling this mystery, the author brings Tara in close contact with a host of characters who populate his narrative. Tara comes across as a woman who has held on to years of resentment because she did not receive the validation and encouragement she wanted from her mother.
Swimming in a heady cocktail of emotions, where grief mixes with anger, and empathy blends in with voyeurism, Tara learns who Maya was beyond her maternal role. In writing her journey, the author rescues the act of mourning from the sentimentality that is usually associated with it. He also liberates Tara from the societal expectation of airing her private loss like an open wound.
Unwelcome spaces
While there is a mystery to be solved, this book is not a whodunnit. It is more of a socio-political commentary on the ecosystem within which artists, curators, gallerists, critics, auctioneers and collectors operate. As an insider to this industry, through his association with Sakshi Gallery as a director, the author seems absolutely comfortable making jibes at those who elevate the vacuous and the pretentious through jargon that is clearly more style than substance.
The snobbery and gatekeeping that exist in these hallowed portals are exposed when Ardeshir, a gallerist, discourages Praveena, the daughter of a picture framer, from pursuing her desire to be an artist. The contempt for new money, among those who live off generational wealth, is well depicted in the interaction where Ardeshir tells Salil, a businessman, “I think taste is in some ways an inheritance, what you grow up with. You, sir, have self-professed baniya origins.”
As an outlier with the risk-taking ability that only an entrepreneur can bring to the table, Salil comes up with the idea of starting a reality show around the personal and professional lives of artists. The old guard is convinced that the idea will be a flop, but Salil is willing to stake his money. Fortunately, his daughter Nupur, who aspires to be a curator, is on his side.
Unfortunately, many of the characters often seem like mouthpieces for ideas rather than fully etched out personalities. Anjana, the art critic addicted to red wine, motichoor laddoo, hing kachori and Raag Malkauns, might be the only exception. She is mercurial, witty and imaginative. One wishes that she had more to do apart from damaging people’s self-esteem.
On the brighter side, the title is haunting. To assume that it is only about Maya’s addiction is limiting. It celebrates the persistence of those who grow in spaces where they are unwelcome.
The reviewer is a writer, educator and literary critic. His work has appeared in various anthologies, including Fearless Love (2019) and Bent Book (2020).
This Garden of Weeds
V. Sanjay KumarBloomsbury India₹599
Published – December 12, 2025 06:05 am IST
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