Showcasing the best of Modern Art

Long back in 2005, MF Husain had once scribbled a line on an exhibition catalogue at Kumar Gallery- “Am I the relic of British Empire?”, which he did in the margin of a picture of his own work- a flamboyant self-portrait in full regalia juxtaposed with images of Mother Teresa, Lord Ganesha and polo players – that was titled ‘Relics of the Empire’.

A collateral event of India Art Fair 2016, the group show titled ‘Celebration’ will be held in the national Capital from January 25 till February 5. The show, where oil on canvas once again will find a place in a group show at Kumar Gallery, also coincides with the 60th year of Kumar Gallery. Around 45 paintings will be showcased by modern masters and renowned artists.

The earliest work in the show is a1938 oil on canvas by Ram Kinkar Baij titled ‘Toilet’ (seated nude lady with maid combing her hair). Then, there is a late 1940s Jamini Roy depicting the finesse of his folk-based lines in a tempera work titled ‘Man with Hookah.

Some of the other highlights of the show are a 1996 Rameshwar Broota titled ‘Scripted in Time’ (also the largest in the show at 70 by 90 inches), a 1984 acrylic on canvas titled ‘Radha in Vrindavan’ by KS Kulkarni and a striking work titled ‘The Foreman’ from 1961 by FN Souza. The show also includes never-seen-before works by Husain (a self portrait 1969), Paysage (1958) by SH Raza, rarely seen impastos on paper by Sohan Qadri and an oil on canvas titled ‘To The Market’ (1961) by NS Bendre. 

The exhibition will also include artworks from the show and astute essays by art critic Keshav Malik, compiled in a comprehensive book of 200 pages. It will also have some of the early shows of modern masters at Kumar Gallery in the 1950’s and 60’s and most candid images of bonhomie amongst Indian artists, critics and their mentors, the Kumars. Captured at various events over the last six decades, these images in the book serve both as visual documentation of historical importance as well as reflect on the evolution and growth of modern Indian art. The show will also be a reflective of Kumar Gallery’s impeccable art collection. Sunit Kumar said: “This is the sixth edition of ‘Celebration’ show but this time, the emphasis is on modern masters whose aesthetic merit is not only publicly acknowledged but who are also academically most sound, the true avant garde of Indian modern art”.