If you have ever wanted to step into a dream, the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA) makes it possible. Between Feb. 7 and July 26, the public will be able to step inside artist Rina Banerjee’s spectacular installation, “Take me, take me, take me… to the Palace of Love.”
This magnificent work decorates the architectural space of the museum’s Entrance Court as a fascinating, glowing, dreamy Taj Mahal. It invites the audience to delve into the idea of love, memory and connection to global culture.
Banerjee, born in Kolkata, India, and currently based in New York, is a globally recognized contemporary artist whose signature works are bold, colourful and intricately sculpted installations. She attended the University of Calcutta and earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Banerjee is known for mixing natural and industrial materials in her works of art, which unpack themes of migration, identity and the global cultural exchange. Her installations have been praised as profoundly engaging experiences that use a variety of materials and open up the dialogue about history and personal memory. In “Take me, take me, take me… to the Palace of Love,” she follows this artistic trajectory by making an elegant yet highly abstract palace.
This exhibition marks the first time that the YCBA has displayed this work since the museum acquired it in 2023, thus showcasing the museum’s dedication to featuring contemporary international artists with its collection of historic British art.
According to the YCBA, Banerjee’s installation is a challenge to conventional ideas of value and beauty while drawing attention to the global histories of trade and cultural exchanges. The artist’s layering of materials, ranging from inexpensive mass-produced plastics to precious metals, creates a dialogue.
One of the startling qualities of “Take me, take me, take me… to the Palace of Love” is its scale and immersive nature. Visitors are free to walk around and under the piece so that they can view and touch the materials, colors and details up close. Due to the large amount of materials required for the exhibit and the vibrant color palette of the installation, it can be an overwhelming but fun experience.
This exhibition also finds an echo in the present discourses around the issues of identity, migration and globalization. Banerjee’s art regularly investigates the impact of changes in the physical borders on the culture, self and identification. Through her reinterpretation of the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous monuments of love and architecture in the world, she demonstrates how objects and spaces can carry multiple layers of meaning across time and place. For students, this can be a powerful lesson in how art communicates complex ideas without words, encouraging reflection on social, cultural and historical issues.
Admission to the YCBA is free, making this installation accessible to students, families and the wider community. Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply curious, this exhibition offers an opportunity to experience art that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. Banerjee’s palace is a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where every detail tells a story about connection, culture and creativity.
If you’re looking for a unique cultural experience this spring or summer, don’t miss Banerjee’s “Take me, take me, take me… to the Palace of Love.” It’s a reminder that art is not just something to look at, it’s something to experience, explore and feel.
