Exhibitions at Jehangir – Week 45 of 2023

November 11, 2023

A Painting by Vasudeo Kamath from 'Soham'

Mumbai – 8^th November 2023

Week 45 of 2023: 7^th – 13^th Nov 2023

The exhibition plan at Jehangir Art Gallery this week has a lineup of six new solo shows, one of sculptures and five of paintings. The artists are from Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, New Delhi, and Chhattisgarh, each one representing their own diverse styles and themes in their artistic expressions. Here is a brief on of all these captivating shows.

Auditorium Hall

‘Soham – A Series of Visual Expressions of Canvas’ – A Solo Exhibition of Paintings by Vasudeo Kamath

Master artist Vasudeo Kamath takes the viewers onto a journey of a spiritual awakening of realization of ‘Soham’ through various popularly known mythological characters in the Hindu religious scriptures – Krishna, Hanuman, Viththal and their interactions with each other. Kamath however points out clearly that his paintings are not religious, but they are expressions of the pointed truth of spiritual non-duality which the Sanskrit expression ‘Soham’ denotes. The single word chant of ‘Soham’ means ‘I Am Him’ and ‘He is me’ which is realization of the oneness of the universal consciousness.

Kamath goes further to express that this feeling of oneness can transcend physical body, gender and time, hence in his paintings, the well-known mythological characters from different epochs meet and interact freely without seeming odd. In this show, Kamath has presented paintings with Lord Krishna as the main character. The obvious challenge for an artist here is to present a new interpretation of Krishna because it is such a beloved character and has been portrayed by numerous artists through centuries. Kamath has been successful in this challenging endeavor of offering something new and unique in his interpretation of Krishna. It is worth experiencing personally.

Exhibition Gallery 1

‘Cosmic Dance’ A Solo Exhibition of Drawings and Paintings by Pankaj Sharma

Pankaj Sharma, a Fine Art Post Graduate from Raja Man Singh Tomar Music and Arts University, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, has actively painted and exhibited for over 15 years. Recognized and awarded by prestigious institutions like the Ministry of Culture, AIFACS, Dhoomimal Gallery and Allahabad University, he has been selectively exhibiting his work at venues like ICCR, Bharat Bhawan, Triveni Kala Sangam and Shridharani Gallery.

Pankaj Sharma believes that paintings of a true artist come from deep within the heart, body and soul and it is a resonant sound of this universe. The artist is eternally connected with the cosmos and is capable of sensing the dance of the cosmic energy which flows through everything – hence the title of the show – ‘Cosmic Dance’. Even though his childhood impressions from his native village in Uttar Pradesh inspire him, human forms and their inter-relationships fascinate him. He explores and creates forms which seem to transcend the regular known body forms which are new reality that gets shaped as the cosmic energy continues to dance through his mind.

Exhibition Gallery 2

‘Nihsabda Akara’ – A Solo Exhibition of Sculptures by Basudeb Biswas

Basudeb Biswas, a celebrated sculptor based in Jalandhar, is renowned for his profound engagement with materials. His expertise lies in transforming scrap metal, often sourced from metal yards, into sculptures that uniquely portray the human body. Biswas meticulously selects and assembles these discarded metal pieces to create a harmonious interplay of form. Through these creatively crafted sculptures, he discovers boundless avenues for expressing both aesthetic beauty and profound emotions.

In his distinctive approach, Biswas consciously explores novel methods, visual languages, and materials, seeking to broaden the horizons of sculpture as an art form. He skillfully rearranges metallic components, completely transforming the original visual narrative of each piece and surprising the viewer. The exhibition titled ‘Nihsabda Akara’ showcases Biswas’s sculptures that eloquently convey the untold emotions experienced by humans during the pandemic. Additionally, the collection includes works from his signature series featuring slender female forms.

Exhibition Gallery 3

‘Enchanted Forest’ – A Solo exhibition of paintings by Kishore Kumar

Kishore Kumar is a seasoned painter based at New Delhi. He has earned a Post graduate degree in Fine Art from IKS University, Khairagarh. He has consistently exhibited his work through solo and group shows throughout the past 10-12 years. He has won awards, recognitions and scholarships from institutions including Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, and Bombay Art Society.

As a creative person, Kishore Kumar is deeply passionate and inspired by nature. He is concerned about the environmental crisis. His paintings mainly depict his feelings about the connection between nature and humanity. In the exhibition titled ‘Enchanted Forest’, he presents imagery of vast forest landscapes filled with soothing yet energizing colours of nature.

Exhibition Gallery 4

‘Shul – Imprints of Impermanence’ – A Solo Exhibition of Paintings by Reena Yadav Ramakrishnan

Reena Yadav Ramakrishnan, a painter and art therapist located in Mumbai, received her training under the guidance of Leila Tayebaly, a trailblazer in Art Therapy training in India. Reena has showcased her artwork in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. Enthusiastic about colors, she delves into their chemistry and application, going beyond the surface to examine their connections with the human psyche and emotions.

‘Shul – Imprints of Impermanence’ signifies the fleeting yet enchantingly beautiful impressions formed through the interactions of beings and nature. These imprints, ephemeral in nature, gain heightened significance as they naturally fade over time, contrasting with the enduring nature of man-made objects carved in solid materials. This series reflects the artist’s exploration for inner stability amid disruptive forces that possess the potential to disturb life’s delicate balance. Reena seamlessly transitions from landscapes to abstraction in this collection, evolving from her earlier autobiographical works like ‘Birthing another self,’ marking the next phase in her ongoing pursuit of a profound understanding of the human condition.

Hirji Gallery

‘Banaras’ – A Solo Exhibition of Paintings by Reba Mondal

Reba Mandal is a freelance visual artist based in Chhattisgarh, who completed her art education in Kolkata. She has participated in over 40 exhibitions so far, including 8 solo shows across prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery, Kolkata Academy of Fine Arts, Chemould Art Gallery, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and Art Revolution Taipei, Taiwan. She has been honoured with many prestigious awards like International Gold Medal, National Gold Medal, and Agnipath Special Award. Her works are in collection of several art connoisseurs in India and abroad including USA, UK, Taiwan, Dubai, and Singapore.

The present series ‘Banaras’ depicts her ode to the omnipresent beauty of nature through its rhythm, Ganga Ghats – Banaras Ghats, Nandi Ganga Ghats and other spiritual environment in picturesque form. An epicenter of vivid spiritual and religious activities, Banaras symbolizes an arena full of different temples, shrines, prayers, pilgrims and continuous chanting of mantras on the steps of the holy river Ganga. Reba has shown Ganga Ghats at Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity.