Works by eminent print makers of India featured at NGMA

As a part of India's first Print Biennale being organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA), a parallel exhibition titled 'Eminent Print Makers of India', began on March 26 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi. Speaking at the opening of this exhibition, Chief Guest, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, mentioned, "I congratulate the Lalit Kala Akademi for organising the very first Print Biennale of the country. Both the LKA and NGMA have been serving Indian art in their own ways, but coming together for India's first Biennale is a historical occasion. This is a significant step for not only keeping the printmaking form of art alive but also to add some new experiments and ideas in it."

The exhibits on view consist artworks of the living masters of Indian printmaking such as Jyoti Bhatt, Sanat Kar, Devraj Dakoji, PD Dhumal, Vijay Kumar, RM Palaniappan, Dhruv Mistry, Kavita Nayar, Krishan Ahuja, Yusuf, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Walter D'Souza and many more. A major attraction of the exhibition is a segment featuring the Pioneers of Printmaking which is nostalgic and reflective of the golden era of this practice.

Speaking on behalf of the artist community of India and abroad, C S Krishna Setty, Administrator, LKA said, "Asia and the Indian subcontinent have inherited a long and historically significant legacy of printmaking. Our earlier generations of printmakers were hugely influenced by the art aesthetics of this medium from Asian sources and their works thus establish a link between their countries. Exhibiting their works on a prestigious platform such as the National Gallery of Modern Art has given the community of art lovers an opportunity to savour this historicity at close quarters."

Speaking on the occasion Advaita Gadanayak, Director General NGMA, reiterated this viewpoint strongly, saying, "This exhibition presents works of art of prominent Indian printmaker practising for more than 30 years. I extend my gratitude to the Lalit Kala Akademi for organising the first Print Biennale India 2018 that gives us an opportunity to look forward to new innovations in the art of printmaking."

The exhibition also provides visitors from India and abroad with a rare privilege to see first-hand, original works that are historic game changers of Indian art. The selected works are in a remarkably well-preserved condition as also representative of the prime years of their art makers' practices. The exhibition will be on view to the public till April 22.

The Academy will host a workshop by expert Anupam Chakravorty and also on Paper Conservation by Arpan Mukherjee at NGMA. Two collateral projects by Sanchayan Ghosh and Amit Mukhopadhyay shall take place at Lalit Kala Akademi during the exhibition.