Art Vanguards of Rajasthan – Rasa Panchaka, curated by Nikhat Ansari, will be held from 24th to 30th April 2026 at the Visual Art Gallery. The exhibition opens on 24th April at 5:00 PM and will remain on view daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The show brings together five artists whose works explore diverse interpretations of tradition, memory, and lived experience.

Concept of Rasa Panchaka

The exhibition is structured around the idea of “Rasa Panchaka,” representing five distinct artistic expressions. Each artist contributes a unique perspective rooted in cultural narratives and emotional depth, creating a dialogue between heritage and contemporary thought. The curatorial approach focuses on how traditional forms can evolve while retaining their cultural essence.

Artists and Their Practices

The exhibition features works by:

• Shail Choyal
• Ankit Patel
• Purna Chandra Kishan
• Dharmendra Rathore
• Chandra Shekhar Sain

Each artist engages with different mediums and themes, ranging from painting and sculpture to terracotta and mixed media, reflecting a wide spectrum of artistic practices from Rajasthan.

Revisiting Tradition Through Contemporary Lenses

Shail Choyal’s work revisits the intricate detailing of Rajasthani miniature painting, presenting it in a contemporary format. Ankit Patel’s sculptural practice draws from rural life, capturing personal memories and everyday experiences. Together, their works highlight how traditional aesthetics can be reinterpreted in modern contexts.

Nature, Mythology, and Philosophy

Purna Chandra Kishan explores the relationship between Nari and Prakriti, presenting them as interconnected entities while addressing environmental concerns through layered compositions. Dharmendra Rathore’s works engage with mythology and philosophical traditions, including Buddhist thought, creating narratives that bridge historical and contemporary realities.

Folk Traditions and Material Practices

Chandra Shekhar Sain works across terracotta and painting, combining Rajasthani folk traditions with contemporary themes. His works focus on rural life, cultural identity, and human emotion, offering a tactile and grounded perspective within the exhibition.

Exhibition Highlights

• Five artists presenting distinct yet interconnected practices
• Exploration of Rajasthani cultural heritage in contemporary art
• Use of diverse mediums including painting, sculpture, and terracotta
• Themes of memory, environment, mythology, and rural life

Venue and Visitor Information

For more details, visitors can explore the official website of the India Habitat Centre: https://www.indiahabitat.org

Takeaway

Art Vanguards of Rajasthan – Rasa Panchaka brings together diverse artistic voices that reflect both continuity and change within Rajasthani art practices. By engaging with tradition through contemporary perspectives, the exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to reflect on cultural identity, environment, and lived experience. It contributes to ongoing conversations in Indian art about how regional narratives can find relevance in a broader contemporary context.

An ongoing exhibition titled What India Learned to See: From Battala to the Ravi Varma Press and Beyond is currently on view at Gallery G in Bengaluru until May 31. Presented by the Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation, the exhibition examines how printmaking shaped the visual imagination of modern India.

Exploring the Role of Printmaking

The exhibition brings together a rare collection of oleographs, lithographs, and printed ephemera dating from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. It situates printmaking as a key medium that enabled the widespread circulation of images, influencing how visual culture developed across regions.

Legacy of Raja Ravi Varma

At the centre of the exhibition is the work of Raja Ravi Varma and the establishment of the Ravi Varma Press. By translating oil paintings into printed formats, the Press enabled mythological imagery to reach a broader audience. Deities such as Lakshmi, Saraswati, Vishnu, Shiva, Rama, and Krishna were standardised in visual form through these reproductions, becoming part of everyday domestic and public spaces.

Regional Print Traditions

Moving beyond a single press, the exhibition highlights a wider network of printmaking practices across India, including traditions from Calcutta and Western India. By placing these works side by side, the exhibition examines how recurring visual elements—such as the lotus, veena, conch, and flute—remain consistent even as stylistic interpretations shift.

Key Highlights of the Exhibition

• Rare oleographs and lithographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Comparative displays of divine iconography across regions
• Archival materials contextualising print circulation and production
• Exploration of technological and market influences on visual culture

Print as a Cultural Force

The exhibition positions print not merely as a tool of reproduction but as an active force in shaping cultural identity. Through repetition and circulation, printed images helped construct a shared visual vocabulary that continues to inform perceptions of mythology and divinity in India.

Voices from the Foundation

Rukmini Varma, Chairperson of the Foundation, emphasised the role of prints in expanding access to art, noting that the exhibition coincides with the birth anniversary of her great-great-grandfather, Raja Ravi Varma. Gitanjali Maini, Managing Trustee and CEO, highlighted that prints were created for dissemination rather than exclusivity, describing them as part of a shared cultural inheritance. Trustee Jay Varma described the exhibition as an inclusive gesture that allows wider audiences to engage with the artist’s legacy.

About the Organiser

The Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation focuses on research, preservation, and public engagement with the legacy of Raja Ravi Varma and his artistic lineage. Its initiatives include exhibitions, publications, and conservation efforts that aim to expand understanding of Indian visual traditions.

Venue and Visitor Information

The exhibition is being held at Gallery G, located on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru. It is open to the public until May 31. Visitors can view the exhibition during gallery hours; entry details have not been specified.

Takeaway

What India Learned to See offers a considered look at how printmaking shaped India’s visual culture and collective imagination. By foregrounding accessibility and circulation, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on how images travel, transform, and endure. It situates print as a vital link between art, society, and shared cultural memory.

Chawla Art Gallery in New Delhi recently hosted an exclusive artist-led walkthrough for its ongoing exhibition “Once Upon a Sculptor”, featuring eminent sculptor K. S. Radhakrishnan. The session offered attendees a close engagement with the artist’s work, guided by his personal reflections and insights into his long-standing practice.

An Immersive Walkthrough Experience

The walkthrough was designed as an immersive experience, allowing visitors to engage directly with the sculptures while hearing the artist speak about his creative journey. Radhakrishnan traced his evolution from early works to more recent pieces, discussing the conceptual and emotional layers that inform his practice.

Exploring the Artist’s Journey

During the session, the artist elaborated on the development of his visual language, highlighting recurring figures and themes. His narration provided context to the forms and gestures seen in his sculptures, offering audiences a deeper understanding of his artistic philosophy.

Exhibition Overview

“Once Upon a Sculptor” brings together a curated selection of works spanning several decades of Radhakrishnan’s career. The exhibition reflects shifts in form, expression, and philosophical inquiry, presenting a cohesive overview of his artistic trajectory.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• Key sculptures representing different phases of the artist’s career
• Works that explore movement, duality, and human emotion
• A focus on the evolution of recurring forms and figures

Signature Forms and Practice

S. Radhakrishnan is widely recognised for his iconic Maiya and Musui figures. These sculptural forms are known for their dynamic movement and expressive posture, often reflecting themes of duality and the human condition. His work continues to hold a significant place in contemporary Indian sculpture.

Notable Attendees

The walkthrough was attended by a distinguished gathering of guests from diverse fields, including Amitabh Kant, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dr Anupam Bhargava, Alok Shriram, and K. S. Mehta. The event also saw participation from collectors, members of the art community, and cultural enthusiasts.

Curatorial Perspective

Shibani Chawla, Director of Chawla Art Gallery and curator of the exhibition, noted that the show brings together works that trace the artist’s journey from early explorations to his later iconic forms. The exhibition reflects varied emotional and philosophical states that define Radhakrishnan’s evolving practice.

Continuing Engagement

The exhibition underscores the gallery’s ongoing association with the artist, including previous showcases and his solo presentation at India Art Fair 2015. It continues to attract interest from collectors, scholars, and wider audiences, offering a focused insight into one of India’s leading sculptors.

Event at a Glance 

Takeaway

“Once Upon a Sculptor” presents not only a retrospective view of K. S. Radhakrishnan’s work but also an opportunity to engage with the ideas shaping contemporary Indian sculpture. The artist-led walkthrough adds depth to the viewing experience, encouraging audiences to reflect on form, movement, and human expression within a cultural context.

An exhibition titled Hamari Virasat will open at 47-A, Khotachi Wadi in Mumbai from April 25 to May 10, 2026. The show brings together textile artworks inspired by the Indian Constitution, marking 75 years of its legacy through the language of craft and design. Open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, except Mondays, the exhibition is accessible to the public and combines art with social and cultural reflection.

A Tribute to the Indian Constitution

Timed to coincide with April, the birth month of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the exhibition acknowledges his role in shaping the Indian Constitution. The show reflects on the document’s guiding principles—liberty, equality, justice, and fraternity—and explores how these ideas continue to influence creative practices across the country.

Textile Art as Collective Expression

The exhibition features 75 handmade textile artworks, each measuring 1 × 1 metre. Created by members of the Hand for Handmade Foundation, the works draw from the visual language of the Preamble to the Constitution. Together, they present a collective interpretation of constitutional values through material, pattern, and form.

Supporting Artisans Across India

The handmade and craft sector in India includes nearly 200 million artisans. The exhibition highlights their contribution to cultural identity and economic livelihoods. It also foregrounds the role of women in the sector and emphasises the importance of sustaining traditional practices through contemporary platforms.

Highlights of the Exhibition

• 75 textile artworks inspired by the Constitution’s Preamble
• Contributions from artisans across diverse regions of India
• Each artwork sized at 1 × 1 metre
• Exhibition and sale supporting artisan livelihoods

From Museum Circuit to Public Sale

According to information in the exhibition dossier, the collection has previously travelled to museums across India and is now being presented for public acquisition. This transition allows audiences not only to engage with the works but also to directly support the artists through purchase.

The Venue: 47-A, Khotachi Wadi

The exhibition is hosted at 47-A Khotachi Wadi, a gallery space located in a 19th-century Portuguese-style house in Girgaum. Khotachi Wadi is one of Mumbai’s historic neighbourhoods, known for its architectural heritage and cultural diversity, providing a fitting backdrop for a show centred on identity and tradition.

Organiser and Concept

The exhibition has been conceptualised by the Hand for Handmade Foundation, founded by Shibani Dasgupta Jain. The initiative aims to draw attention to the artisan sector and its connection to the broader idea of India as articulated through the Constitution.

Visitor Information

Takeaway

Hamari Virasat brings together craft, history, and contemporary reflection through textile art. By linking constitutional values with everyday artistic practices, the exhibition offers a way to engage with India’s democratic ideals through material culture. It also creates a platform for artisans to sustain their work while contributing to a wider cultural dialogue.

Emami Art in Kolkata will open two exhibitions on 20 March 2026 Nothing Twice and Chance Remains of Another Time bringing together contemporary artistic approaches that engage with memory, impermanence, and urban life. Both exhibitions will run until 9 May 2026 at the gallery’s ground-floor spaces.

Exhibition Overview

Presented by Emami Art, a contemporary art space located at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity, the exhibitions reflect the gallery’s ongoing focus on socially engaged and experimental practices. Established in 2017, the gallery has built a programme that supports emerging and established artists across South Asia through curated exhibitions, residencies, and public programmes.

Nothing Twice: A Study of Impermanence

Curated by Ushmita Sahu, Nothing Twice brings together nine young women artists working across painting, textiles, photography, video, drawing, and ceramics. The exhibition takes inspiration from Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska’s reflections on the fleeting nature of life, translating everyday experiences into artistic expressions.

The works explore how materials associated with domestic and craft practices can function as contemporary visual languages. Themes of labour, care, and lived experience are foregrounded, offering a nuanced reflection on the passage of time and emotional memory.

Highlights of Nothing Twice

• Works across multiple mediums including textiles, ceramics, and video
• Focus on everyday experiences and domestic materiality
• Exploration of memory, perception, and impermanence
• Participation of nine emerging women artists

Suman Dey’s “Chance Remains of Another Time”

Running concurrently in Gallery 1, Chance Remains of Another Time is a solo exhibition by Suman Dey, marking his second presentation at the gallery following his 2023 solo show.

Dey, a Kolkata-based self-taught artist known for his abstract practice, presents a new body of polyptych works. These compositions assemble fragmented visual elements—images, signs, and impressions into layered structures that reflect the complexities of contemporary urban life.

Exploring Urban Memory Through Form

The exhibition examines the shifting nature of city life through fragmented imagery and layered compositions. Dey’s works bring together ideas of celebration and decay, memory and loss, mirroring the transformation of urban environments shaped by rapid expansion.

Key Features of the Exhibition

• Introduction of polyptych format in Dey’s practice
• Abstract compositions reflecting urban fragmentation
• Interplay of colour as a structural element
• Themes of memory, loss, and urban transformation

Curatorial and Institutional Context

According to CEO Richa Agarwal, the exhibitions highlight new directions in contemporary practice, with Nothing Twice focusing on emerging voices and Chance Remains of Another Time marking a shift in Dey’s artistic approach. Curator Ushmita Sahu emphasises the role of abstraction and materiality in capturing both natural rhythms and urban realities.

Emami Art continues to position itself as a platform for critical engagement, supporting artists through exhibitions, film festivals, and educational initiatives.

Venue and Visitor Information

Both exhibitions will be held at Emami Art, located at 777 Anandapur, EM Bypass, Kolkata.

Conclusion

With Nothing Twice and Chance Remains of Another Time, Emami Art presents two distinct yet interconnected explorations of time, memory, and lived experience. Together, the exhibitions offer insights into how contemporary artists engage with personal and collective histories, contributing to broader conversations in today’s cultural landscape.

The Lexicon Art in New Delhi will present Dvaita (द्वैत): Dualities, a group exhibition curated by Ankon Mitra, opening on 18 April 2026 and continuing until 18 May 2026. The exhibition brings together 11 artists to explore the philosophical concept of dualism through a range of contemporary artistic practices.

Exploring Dualism Through Art

The exhibition draws from the idea of dualities contrasting elements such as black and white, gold and silver, or geometric and amorphous forms. Through these juxtapositions, the show aims to reflect on how opposites coexist and eventually resolve into a sense of oneness, referred to as Advaita in Indian philosophy.

Curatorial Approach by Ankon Mitra

Curator Ankon Mitra, trained as an architect and known for his work across sculpture, installation, and landscape design, has developed the exhibition over four years. His approach reflects India’s layered realities, where contrasts are embedded in everyday life. The exhibition positions these dualities as both visual and conceptual experiences for viewers.

Artists and Works on Display

The exhibition features a diverse group of artists working across mediums such as painting, sculpture, installations, and murals.

Participating artists include:

• Ankon Mitra
• Divyendu Anand
• Keshari Nandan
• Meenakshi Jha Banerjee
• Naman Mahipal
• Neerja Chandna Peters
• Nimesh Patel
• Pratap Chandra Chakraborty
• Shovin Bhattacharjee
• Vinod Daroz

The works collectively engage with contrasts in material, form, and perception.

Gallery Space as Conceptual Extension

 

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The exhibition extends beyond individual artworks to the spatial design of the gallery itself. The Lexicon Art’s space is arranged to reflect a “dance of dualities,” moving away from the conventional white cube format. This approach encourages viewers to engage with complexity rather than isolated works.

About The Lexicon Art

Founded as an initiative of Delhi Press Magazines, The Lexicon Art has worked for over a decade to make art more accessible. Located in Connaught Place, the gallery is known for its curated exhibitions and efforts to connect audiences with diverse artistic practices both in India and internationally.

Visitor Information

The exhibition will be open from Monday to Saturday between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM at The Lexicon Art, M-12, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Entry details have not specified ticketing requirements.

Takeaway

Dvaita (द्वैत): Dualities positions itself as an exploration of contrast and coexistence, drawing from philosophical and lived realities in India. By bringing together multiple artistic voices and mediums, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on complexity and harmony. It offers a space to consider how opposites shape perception and meaning within contemporary cultural discourse.

Japanese artist Mari Ito presents her first solo exhibition in India with Origin of Desire, opening from 24 April to 1 May 2026 at The Ballroom, Bikaner House, New Delhi. Presented by GEEK/ART New Delhi, the exhibition introduces Ito’s distinctive visual language through a series of sculptural works and paintings that explore organic forms and surreal imagery.

A Debut Exhibition in India

Origin of Desire marks Mari Ito’s first solo presentation in India. Currently based in Barcelona, the artist brings together a body of work that reflects her evolving practice across mediums. The exhibition is hosted at The Ballroom, Bikaner House, a prominent cultural venue in New Delhi known for showcasing contemporary art and design.

Exploring Organic and Surreal Worlds

Ito’s works depict a vivid landscape of surreal flowers, biomorphic structures, and human-like forms. Her compositions feature seeds, pods, and cellular motifs that evoke growth and transformation. Through luminous colour fields and layered textures, the exhibition constructs a world where desire appears as a generative and constantly shifting force.

Rooted in Nihonga Traditions

 

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Ito’s practice draws from traditional Nihonga techniques, a classical Japanese painting method. She works with pigments, sumi ink, and nikawa applied on Oguni washi paper. This approach maintains the precision of Japanese craftsmanship while allowing her to expand its visual possibilities into contemporary contexts.

Themes of Desire and Transformation

The exhibition positions desire as a primal and expansive force. Ito’s imagery resists fixed boundaries, presenting hybrid forms that mutate and evolve. Her work suggests a fluid interplay between the erotic, psychological, and biological, offering a layered interpretation of inner and external realities.

Feminist and Avant-Garde Influences

Ito’s work engages with Japanese surrealism and folkloric animism, while also reflecting post-war avant-garde movements. Her approach reclaims decorative and floral motifs, often associated with femininity, as spaces of transformation and political meaning. This perspective aligns her practice with broader feminist discourses in contemporary art.

Highlights of the Exhibition

• Sculptural works alongside large and small-format paintings
• Use of traditional Nihonga materials in contemporary compositions
• Recurring motifs of seeds, pods, and cellular forms
• Exploration of desire through surreal and biomorphic imagery

A New Chapter for GEEK/ART in India

The exhibition also marks the launch of GEEK/ART’s independent programming in India. Known for presenting interdisciplinary artistic practices, the platform aims to bring diverse voices from across Asia into dialogue with Indian audiences through exhibitions and cultural initiatives.

Visitor Information

Takeaway

Origin of Desire introduces Indian audiences to Mari Ito’s distinctive exploration of form, material, and emotion. By merging traditional techniques with contemporary themes, the exhibition creates a space for reflection on identity, desire, and transformation. It also signals a growing exchange between Asian artistic practices and local cultural contexts in India.