A new solo exhibition by Indian contemporary artist G. R. Iranna will open at the Bihar Museum in Patna on 21 November 2026. Titled Whisperings from Transcending Meadows, the exhibition is presented by Gallery Espace in collaboration with Bihar Museum and will remain on view until 4 February 2027. Bringing together recent paintings, sculptures and a sound installation, the exhibition explores themes of spirituality, nature, history and the human condition.
A New Body of Work
The exhibition features several large-scale works created by Iranna in recent years. According to the organisers, the artist continues his long-standing engagement with questions of impermanence, memory and human aspiration. The exhibition title is inspired by the poetry of 12th-century Kannada mystic-poet Allama Prabhu and references the concept of bayalu-a state of emptiness or void. Within this philosophical framework, a single blade of grass becomes a symbol of hope, continuity and renewal.
Bihar as a Source of Reflection
Many of the works draw inspiration from Bihar’s historical and cultural legacy. References to the Buddha, Bodh Gaya and Nalanda recur throughout the exhibition, connecting the artist’s broader concerns with ideas of creation, destruction, memory and decay. One of the paintings depicts the monumental ruins of Nalanda as imposing yet empty forms, reflecting on the fragility of even the most celebrated human achievements.
The exhibition also includes a sound installation centred on the bhikshu patra, the traditional begging bowl associated with Buddhist monks. The work establishes a direct link with the Buddhist traditions that continue to shape the region today.
Exploring Contrasts Through Art
Across the exhibition, Iranna brings together contrasting visual and philosophical ideas:
- Figuration and abstraction
- Presence and absence
- Weight and lightness
- Construction and ruin
- Materiality and spirituality
The artist employs painting, sculpture and sound to create works that move between these opposing states while encouraging contemplation on the nature of existence.
About the Artist
View this post on Instagram
R. Iranna, born in Karnataka in 1970, is among India’s prominent contemporary artists. He studied painting at the College of Visual Art in Gulbarga and later completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at the College of Art, New Delhi. He also studied at the Wimbledon School of Art in London and currently lives and works in New Delhi. His practice spans painting and sculpture and often investigates themes of spirituality, mortality and the relationship between human life and nature.
Iranna has exhibited widely in India and internationally, including presentations at the Venice Biennale, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and the National Gallery of Modern Art. His works are held in several public and private collections, including the Singapore Art Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art.
Gallery Espace and Bihar Museum Collaboration
Founded in New Delhi, Gallery Espace has worked with leading contemporary artists for several decades and has presented numerous exhibitions focused on contemporary artistic practice in India.
Bihar Museum has increasingly become a venue for major art exhibitions alongside its permanent collections. The collaboration between Gallery Espace and the museum brings Iranna’s work into dialogue with a region closely associated with Buddhist history and learning traditions.
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
| Title | Whisperings from Transcending Meadows |
| Artist | G. R. Iranna |
| Venue | Temporary Art Gallery, Bihar Museum, Patna, Bihar, India |
| Exhibition Dates | 21 November 2026 – 4 February 2027 |
| Organiser | Gallery Espace in collaboration with Bihar Museum |
| Entry / Tickets | Not announced |
| Website | https://galleryespace.com/ | https://biharmuseum.org/ |
Takeaway
Whisperings from Transcending Meadows brings together philosophical reflection, historical memory and contemporary artistic practice within the setting of Bihar Museum. By engaging with ideas drawn from poetry, Buddhism and the natural world, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to consider questions of continuity, impermanence and human experience. Through painting, sculpture and sound, Iranna’s works open a space for reflection on the connections between individual lives, cultural history and the broader cycles of existence.
