With The Imaginary Institution of India exhibition, the Barbican is showcasing work from over 30 Indian artists produced during a pivotal time in the country’s history. Bookended by two significant events, Indira Gandhi’s declaration of a state of emergency in 1975 and the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998, the exhibition covers a turbulent period of social change, rapid urbanisation and economic collapse. The pieces on display show how artists lived through and interpreted these major episodes, covering topics like religion, caste, love, desire, family, community and protest.