Blueprint12 presents Endless Stairs, a solo exhibition by Sri Lankan artist Kingsley Gunatilake, on view from 4 to 8 April 2026 at Bikaner House, CCA Ground Floor, New Delhi. The exhibition brings together book art, sculptural installations, and abstract paintings, reflecting the artist’s long engagement with abstraction and material exploration.

Exploring Memory Through Material

The exhibition centres on themes of memory, loss, and resilience. Through layered surfaces and varied materials, Gunatilake creates works that invite viewers into a contemplative space. His use of books, pages, and canvases transforms familiar objects into sites of reflection and emotional engagement.

Book Art and Political Histories

A significant part of Endless Stairs is dedicated to book art. These works examine the foundations and destruction of knowledge, drawing from the history of library burnings in Sri Lanka. The altered books, often burned and marked, become symbolic objects that connect personal memory with broader political histories.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• Burnt and altered books referencing lost libraries
• Sculptural installations incorporating steel military figures
• Layered abstract paintings on canvas and washi paper

Abstraction as a Language of Reflection

Alongside the installations, Gunatilake presents a new body of abstract paintings. Using traditional Japanese washi paper, the artist experiments with colour absorption and layered textures. Bright hues emerge beneath darker surfaces, suggesting fragmented memories and the persistence of experience despite violence and erasure.

A Practice Spanning Five Decades

Trained in Colombo in the 1970s, Kingsley Gunatilake has developed a distinctive visual language over more than five decades. He has held over 24 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous international shows, including presentations at the India Art Fair and exhibitions across Asia and Europe. His work often addresses themes of war, peace, and human rights through diverse media such as painting, installation, and illustration.

Blueprint12 and Contemporary Art Dialogues

The exhibition is presented by Blueprint12, a New Delhi-based gallery known for its focus on contemporary and experimental practices. Through exhibitions like Endless Stairs, the gallery continues to engage audiences with artists whose work reflects complex social and cultural narratives.

Visitor Information

Endless Stairs is open to the public from 11 am to 7 pm during its run. Visitors can experience a range of works that combine tactile materials with conceptual depth in a gallery setting that echoes both a library and a site of conflict.

Takeaway

Endless Stairs offers a layered exploration of memory, knowledge, and historical trauma through material and abstraction. By transforming books and surfaces into expressive forms, Kingsley Gunatilake invites viewers to reflect on the fragility and endurance of cultural memory. The exhibition contributes to ongoing conversations in contemporary art about history, conflict, and the role of artistic practice in preserving collective experience.

Third Edition of ShowKeen Announced

AstaGuru Auction House will present the third edition of ShowKeen, an exhibition of Modern and Contemporary Indian Art, in Mumbai on 11th and 12th April 2026. The event will be held at the Nehru Centre, Worli, continuing the platform’s focus on curated presentations of significant artworks.

Continuing a Growing Exhibition Platform

Following earlier editions in Mumbai and New Delhi, ShowKeen has developed into a recurring showcase for Indian art across periods. The exhibition brings together collectors, connoisseurs, and art enthusiasts, offering access to works that represent key movements in Indian art history.

Artists Across Generations

The exhibition includes works by modern masters such as S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, Akbar Padamsee, and Anjolie Ela Menon. It also features contemporary artists including Meetali Singh, Tom Vattakuzhy, Vinod Sharma, and Chittrovanu Mazumdar, reflecting a dialogue between historical and current artistic practices.

Featured Artists Include:

• S.H. Raza
• M.F. Husain
• F.N. Souza
• Akbar Padamsee
• Anjolie Ela Menon
• Meetali Singh
• Tom Vattakuzhy
• Vinod Sharma
• Chittrovanu Mazumdar

Curatorial Approach and Exhibition Theme

ShowKeen is designed as an immersive and contemplative exhibition. The presentation highlights experimentation, cultural narratives, and artistic innovation, while tracing the evolution of Indian art across generations. The format encourages closer engagement with artworks and fosters dialogue among audiences.

About AstaGuru Auction House

Founded in 2008, AstaGuru Auction House operates as a platform for Modern and Contemporary Indian Art and luxury collectibles. The organisation focuses on connecting collectors with rare works while expanding access through digital platforms. Its initiatives aim to support both established and emerging audiences in engaging with Indian art.

Event Highlights:

• Curated selection of modern and contemporary Indian artworks
• Works spanning multiple artistic movements
• Invite-only and registration-based access
• Opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to engage with major works

Venue and Visitor Information

The exhibition will take place at the Nehru Centre in Worli, Mumbai. The event is open to invited guests and registered attendees, offering a structured viewing experience within a limited time frame.

Access and Registration

ShowKeen is an invite-only exhibition, with access extended to registered attendees. Further information and registration details are available on the official website: https://www.showkeen.in

Takeaway

The third edition of ShowKeen positions itself as a focused platform for engaging with Indian art across generations. By bringing together established masters and contemporary voices, the exhibition offers insight into the country’s evolving artistic landscape. It contributes to ongoing conversations around cultural heritage, artistic innovation, and the role of curated exhibitions in shaping public engagement with art.

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, marked its 72nd Foundation Day on 29 March 2026 with the inauguration of its first-ever Printmaking Art Studio. The initiative introduces a new space dedicated to exploring printmaking practices and aims to expand engagement with traditional and contemporary graphic arts.

Foundation Day Celebration and New Initiative

The launch of the Printmaking Art Studio forms the central highlight of NGMA’s Foundation Day celebrations. Established in 1954, NGMA has played a significant role in preserving and promoting modern and contemporary Indian art. The addition of a dedicated printmaking facility reflects the institution’s continued focus on diversifying artistic practices and providing hands-on learning environments.

Printmaking Workshop Featuring Artists

As part of the celebrations, NGMA is hosting a Printmaking Workshop from 30 March to 4 April 2026. The workshop brings together ten eminent printmakers from across India, offering visitors insight into a wide range of techniques and artistic approaches within the medium.

Workshop Highlights

• Live demonstrations by established printmakers
• Exposure to multiple printmaking techniques
• Interactive sessions with participating artists
• Opportunities to observe the creative process in real time

Invitation to Students and Faculty

Students and faculty are invited to attend the workshop from 1–4 April 2026. The sessions will take place daily between 10 AM and 4 PM. With participation limited to 50 students, the event is designed to provide a focused and engaging learning experience.

Exploring Printmaking as a Practice

Printmaking has long been a significant medium in Indian art, used by artists to experiment with form, texture, and reproducibility. The workshop aims to introduce participants to both traditional and contemporary techniques, encouraging a deeper understanding of material processes and artistic expression.

NGMA’s Role in Art Education

 

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Over the decades, NGMA has organised exhibitions, workshops, and educational programmes that connect audiences with art practices. This new studio is expected to strengthen its educational initiatives by offering regular demonstrations, residencies, and training sessions in printmaking.

Visitor Information and Registration

Participation in the workshop is limited, and interested attendees are required to register in advance via email at ngma.edu@gmail.com. The programme offers a structured opportunity for academic and creative engagement within a museum setting.

Takeaway

The launch of the Printmaking Art Studio at NGMA signals a renewed emphasis on practice-based learning within institutional spaces. By bringing together artists and students, the initiative fosters dialogue, skill development, and appreciation of printmaking as an evolving art form. It also reinforces NGMA’s role as a key platform for cultural exchange and artistic education in India.

Exhibition Overview

Gallery Ragini presents Mapped by Tide and Time, a solo exhibition of works by Vishakha Apte, curated by Ina Puri. Opening in April 2026, the exhibition will be held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai from 14th to 20th April 2026, before travelling to Gallery Ragini, New Delhi from 25th April to 30th May 2026. The show brings together a wide selection of Apte’s works across mediums, offering insight into her evolving artistic language.

A Practice Rooted in Material Inquiry

Spanning over three decades, Vishakha Apte’s practice is grounded in a sustained engagement with material and process. Working across painting, printmaking, paper constructions, and ceramics, her approach emphasises tactile depth and quiet intensity. Rather than following a linear trajectory, her work unfolds as a continuum where each medium becomes a space to explore form and presence.

Themes of Form, Presence, and Memory

Central to the exhibition is Apte’s exploration of figuration, which departs from conventional representation. Her works often present fragments—feet, limbs, and traces—that suggest presence without defining it fully. Everyday objects and interior forms appear animated, blurring the boundary between subject and environment, and reflecting a deep connection between material and lived experience.

Curatorial Perspective

Curated by Ina Puri, the exhibition assembles works from different phases of Apte’s career to highlight the continuity and transformation within her practice. Puri notes that Apte’s work redefines figuration through subtle traces and textures, focusing on persistence rather than spectacle. The curatorial framework emphasises the artist’s movement from isolated forms toward relational structures.

Evolution Across Mediums

The exhibition highlights the artist’s transition from early printmaking, characterised by restraint, to more layered and sculptural forms. Her use of recycled paper introduces an ecological dimension, transforming fragments of textual material into tangible surfaces. In her ceramic works, form and weight come together to create structures that occupy space with a quiet physical presence.

Highlights of the Exhibition

• Paintings exploring tactile surfaces and abstraction
• Printmaking works reflecting early explorations
• Paper constructions using recycled textual fragments
• Ceramic sculptures emphasising form and spatial presence

About the Artist

Vishakha Apte (b. 1966, Nashik) graduated from Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai in 1987. She has received several awards, including recognition at the National Exhibition, New Delhi, and fellowships from the Department of Culture, Government of India. Her work has been exhibited internationally in biennials and triennials across Japan, China, Poland, and India. Apte’s works are part of major collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art and Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

Venue and Visitor Information

The exhibition will be held at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda district, followed by Gallery Ragini in New Delhi’s Lado Sarai. Visitors can attend between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM during the exhibition dates. Entry details have not specified ticketing, suggesting open access during gallery hours.

Organiser and Gallery Context

Gallery Ragini, known for its engagement with contemporary Indian art, continues its programme of showcasing artists with sustained and evolving practices. The exhibition reflects the gallery’s focus on presenting works that engage deeply with material, context, and artistic inquiry.

Takeaway

Mapped by Tide and Time offers a considered look into Vishakha Apte’s artistic journey, emphasising process, material, and subtle expression. By bringing together works across time and medium, the exhibition creates a space for reflective viewing and deeper engagement. It contributes to ongoing conversations in contemporary art around form, memory, and the lived experience of making.

Shrine Empire will inaugurate its new gallery space in Defence Colony, New Delhi, on 21 April 2026 with प्रक्रिया / Process, a group exhibition featuring artists from its roster. The exhibition will remain on view until 23 May 2026 and will reflect on process as both method and meaning, bringing together diverse practices rooted in the South Asian context.

A New Chapter for Shrine Empire

Founded in 2008 by Anahita Taneja and Shefali Somani, Shrine Empire has established itself as a platform for contemporary South Asian art with a focus on research-driven and process-oriented practices. The opening of the new space marks a continuation of its commitment to expanding dialogues around art and material experimentation.

Exhibition Focus: Process as Practice

प्रक्रिया / Process explores the idea of process not only as a technical approach but also as a conceptual framework. The exhibition brings together multiple artistic voices, encouraging dialogue across mediums and methodologies while situating them within a broader South Asian perspective.

Participating Artists

The exhibition features works by a wide range of artists, including:

• Amitava
• Anoli Perera
• Arun Dev
• Awdhesh Tamrakar
• Baaraan Ijlal
• Divya Singh
• Hema Shironi
• Moonis Ijlal
• Nandita Kumar
• Neerja Kothari
• Paribartana Mohanty
• Ranjana Thapalyal
• Renuka Rajiv
• Sajan Mani
• Samanta Batra Mehta
• Sangita Maity
• Sarker Protick
• Shruti Mahajan
• Tayeba Begum Lipi

Architecture and Spatial Design

The new 2,400 square foot gallery has been designed by Vritima Wadhwa, founder of Project 810. Conceived as a space rooted in essentialism, the design moves away from the conventional white cube model. It incorporates layered experiences including a reading salon, coffee corner, mezzanine, and viewing lounge.

Wadhwa describes the gallery as a “curated silence,” where adaptable lighting and material warmth create an environment that supports the evolving nature of contemporary art practices.

Rethinking the Gallery Experience

According to the founders, the new space is envisioned as a discursive and immersive environment. Visitors are encouraged to engage with art beyond passive viewing through spaces designed for reading, reflection, and conversation.

Key features of the space include:

• A dedicated reading salon
• Coffee collaboration area
• Viewing lounge and private meeting spaces
• Flexible exhibition layout

About the Designer

Vritima Wadhwa is an AD100 designer and recipient of the EDIDA Designer of the Year award. Her studio, Project 810, founded in 2013–14, is based in New Delhi and focuses on contemporary design approaches informed by both local and global influences.

Institutional Context and Outreach

Over the years, Shrine Empire has participated in major international art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Art SG, Artissima, Asia Now Paris, and Art Dubai. The gallery also runs outreach initiatives through the Prameya Art Foundation, contributing to discourse around contemporary art and its social and political contexts.

Event at a Glance

The exhibition will be open to the public at Shrine Empire’s new venue in Defence Colony, New Delhi, from 21 April to 23 May 2026. Visitors are encouraged to spend time within the space, engaging with both artworks and the environment designed to support reflection and dialogue.

Takeaway

With प्रक्रिया / Process, Shrine Empire opens its new space not just as a gallery but as a site for sustained artistic engagement. The exhibition reflects a broader commitment to process-driven practices and positions the space as a platform for dialogue within the South Asian art landscape.

Introduction

“Unity in Harmony – Season 5,” curated by Devika Verma, will be held at the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society in New Delhi from 29 March to 2 April 2026. The fifth edition of the exhibition brings together artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts to celebrate contemporary artistic expression and cultural dialogue.

Event at Glance 

A Platform for Collective Expression

The exhibition continues its focus on presenting diverse artistic voices under a unifying theme. “Unity in Harmony” positions itself as a platform where individuality and collaboration coexist, encouraging dialogue across artistic styles and practices.

Curatorial Vision

Curator Devika Verma emphasises the role of art as a universal language that connects communities. The exhibition aims to foster meaningful engagement between artists and audiences, offering an inclusive space for appreciation and interpretation.

Exhibition Highlights

Season 5 will present a wide range of contemporary works across mediums and styles. A notable highlight this year is the display of a work by M. F. Husain, one of India’s most influential modern artists.

Key highlights include:

• Contemporary artworks across painting, mixed media, and experimental formats
• Participation from emerging and established artists
• A special display featuring M.F. Husain

Venue and Setting

Hosted at AIFACS, one of India’s longstanding cultural institutions, the exhibition benefits from a space known for supporting visual arts and fostering artistic exchange. The venue has historically hosted significant exhibitions and continues to be a hub for artists and audiences.

Opening and Visitor Information

The exhibition will open with a grand inauguration on 29 March 2026 at 5:00 PM onwards. Visitors, including collectors, media, and the general public, are invited to attend throughout the exhibition period until 2 April 2026.

Engaging Art and Audience

The exhibition is designed to create an immersive and thoughtful experience. By presenting varied perspectives and mediums, it encourages audiences to engage with contemporary art in a reflective and accessible manner.

Takeaway

“Unity in Harmony – Season 5” reflects the evolving landscape of contemporary art in India, bringing together diverse voices under a shared vision. Through its curated approach and inclusive platform, the exhibition contributes to cultural dialogue and strengthens connections between artists and audiences.

A new exhibition titled Portraits in Time: Power, Presence, and Identity Across Centuries will be presented by Great Banyan Art at LTC, Bikaner House, New Delhi, from 8th to 15th April 2026. Curated by Sonali Batra, the exhibition brings together fifty works spanning centuries and geographies, examining portraiture as a dynamic and evolving exploration of identity. 

A Chronological Journey Through Portraiture

The exhibition is structured as a chronological journey, tracing the transformation of portraiture from early academic realism to contemporary interpretations. Moving across time periods, the works highlight how portraiture has shifted from formal representation to psychological and conceptual explorations of the self. 

From Authority to Expression

Historically, portraiture functioned as both a record and a symbol of authority. In Indian court traditions, portraits reinforced dynastic continuity and were largely confined to elite spaces. In Europe, academic traditions elevated both the sitter and the artist, establishing portraiture as a marker of prestige and cultural capital. 

 

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Modernism and Psychological Depth

By the mid-twentieth century, artists began to move beyond likeness toward emotional and psychological depth. Figures such as F. N. Souza, Krishen Khanna, and Anjolie Ela Menon redefined portraiture through distortion, colour, and expressive line. Their works foreground inner states rather than outward appearances, reflecting broader social and cultural shifts. 

Contemporary Reinterpretations

Contemporary artists in the exhibition—including Shobha Broota, Tom Vattakuzhy, and Terry Turrell—extend this trajectory further. Their works explore identity as fluid and shaped by memory, migration, and cultural hybridity, offering layered interpretations of presence and selfhood in a globalised world. 

Featured Artists and Highlights

The exhibition includes works by a wide range of artists across periods and geographies.

Featured artists include:

• Krishen Khanna, Anjolie Ela Menon, F. N. Souza
• K. R. Ravi Varma, Abalal Rahiman, M. F. Pithawalla
• Rabin Mondal, Maniklal Banerjee, Rasik Raval
• Tom Vattakuzhy, Shobha Broota, Terry Turrell
• Jean François Portaels, Hugues Merle, Rose Bonnor

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About the Organiser

Great Banyan Art, established in 2004 in New Delhi, has developed one of India’s largest private art collections, with over 2,000 artworks. Under the direction of Sonali Batra, the organisation has collaborated with major auction houses and continues to promote research, education, and public engagement with art. 

Visitor Information

The exhibition will be open from Monday to Sunday, between 11 AM and 7 PM, at LTC, Bikaner House, Pandara Road, New Delhi. Entry details have not specified ticketing requirements.

Takeaway

Portraits in Time presents a layered examination of portraiture as both an artistic and cultural practice. By bringing together works across centuries and geographies, the exhibition highlights how identity is shaped through shifting contexts of power, memory, and representation. It offers viewers an opportunity to reflect on how the human image continues to evolve, bridging historical traditions with contemporary perspectives.