Landmark exhibition celebrates birth centenary year of Indian modernist KG Subramanyan

'One Hundred Years and Counting: Re-Scripting KG Subramanyan' is a retrospective-scale exhibition of Indian modernist KG Subramanyan (1924-2016), marking his birth centenary year. (Source: PR Handout)

Curated by cultural theorist Nancy Adajania, this exhibition will explore various aspects of his creative genius, aiming to dismantle the stereotypical readings that persist about the artist and his work. (Source: PR Handout)

Spanning more than seven decades of his practice, it will feature more than 200 works, including his early paintings from the 1950s, iconic reverse paintings on acrylic, gouaches, marker pen works on paper, and a significant amount of archival material not seen before. (Source: PR Handout)

Widely recognised as one of the most versatile and prolific artists, Subramanyan was also a great writer, thinker, and pedagogue who studied art at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, under Nandalal Bose, Benodebehari Mukherjee, and Ramkinkar Baij, and at the Slade School of Art, London. (Source: PR Handout)

"Through this exhibition, we will be looking at what is universally regarded as his political work, such as his powerful terracottas commemorating the 1971 Bangladesh War and the biting critique of the 1975-1977 Emergency in his children’s book, ‘The Talking Face’," says Nancy Adajania. (Source: PR Handout)

Adding to this, Richa Agarwal, CEO, Emami Art, said, "Besides being an artist, he was a fine writer, poet, and translator; his books, including the ones he wrote and illustrated for children, have been widely read and appreciated. I believe the artists, art lovers, and students will enjoy the exhibition." (Source: PR Handout)

The exhibition will be held at Emami Art Gallery, Kolkata, from April 5 to June 21, 2024, from 11 am to 7 pm. It is being presented in collaboration with Seagull and Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Baroda. (Source: PR Handout)

Born in 1924 in rural Kerala, KG Subramanyan played a pivotal role in shaping India’s artistic identity after Independence. (Source: PR Handout)

Mani-da, as he was fondly called, seamlessly blended the elements of modernism with folk expression in his works that spanned paintings, murals, sculptures, prints, set designs, and toys. His visual meditations contemplated human subjects and objects as distinct forms, characterised by vibrant colours and abstract shapes. (Source: PR Handout)