A new solo exhibition by Delhi-based artist Poonam Bhatnagar will open at LTC, Bikaner House, New Delhi, from 23 to 27 September 2026. Titled Odyssey, the exhibition is curated by Uma Nair and presented by Khushii Art. Bringing together works created across different phases of the artist’s practice, the exhibition explores themes of nature, memory, spirituality, mythology and human experience.
A Journey Through Multiple Themes
According to the organisers, Odyssey reflects Bhatnagar’s artistic evolution from childhood memories and travel experiences to her engagement with mythology and landscape painting. The exhibition is structured around four thematic bodies of work—Prakriti, Mayura, Enlightened One and Mythos. Together, these series present a visual narrative that moves between natural environments, spiritual imagery and cultural storytelling.
The exhibition aims to highlight how personal experiences and observations have informed the artist’s visual language over the years.
Curatorial Framework
Curator Uma Nair, an art critic and curator who has written extensively on contemporary Indian art for more than three decades, has organised the exhibition into distinct thematic sections.
Nair notes that the exhibition opens with panoramic landscape compositions and nature-inspired imagery before moving into representations of Buddha and figures drawn from Indian mythology. The layout is intended to guide visitors through different stages of Bhatnagar’s artistic concerns while maintaining connections between nature, spirituality and cultural memory.
Nature and the Peacock Motif
One of the central sections of the exhibition is Prakriti, a series of landscapes that focus on changing moods of nature. These works present forests, skies and natural terrains through a blend of abstraction and detailed surface treatment.
The Mayura series turns attention to the peacock, a recurring motif in Indian art and culture. In these works, peacocks appear alongside architectural references inspired by Rajasthan’s havelis, creating visual links between natural beauty and built heritage.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Landscapes from the Prakriti series
- Peacock-themed works from Mayura
- Buddha-inspired paintings from Enlightened One
- Mythological figures from the Mythos collection
- A large-scale work dedicated to Meerabai
Spiritual and Mythological Narratives
The Enlightened One series focuses on Lord Buddha and incorporates soft, autumnal tones and tropical imagery. These works explore ideas of peace, contemplation and inner reflection.
The final gallery space is dedicated to Mythos, featuring figures from Indian mythology. Visitors will encounter depictions of Hanuman, Saraswati, Shiva, Ram, Ganesha and Lakshmi. The exhibition also includes a work centred on Meerabai, presented as a reflection on devotion, poetry and storytelling traditions.
These paintings continue Bhatnagar’s long-standing interest in connecting contemporary artistic practice with narratives drawn from Indian cultural history.
The Webcast Technique
A distinctive feature of Bhatnagar’s work is her self-developed “webcast” technique. The method emerged from her observation of a spider’s web and has become a defining aspect of her artistic style. The intricate network-like patterns create layers of texture and detail across the surface of the paintings.
Bhatnagar’s background in textile design has also influenced this approach. The resulting visual language combines fine embellishment, structural rhythm and detailed surface treatment. The artist has previously described the technique as an exploration of interconnectedness and layered perception.
Visitor Information
| Event Name | Details |
| Title | Odyssey – A Solo Show by Poonam Bhatnagar |
| Artist | Poonam Bhatnagar |
| Curator | Uma Nair |
| Venue | LTC, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, Near India Gate |
| City | New Delhi |
| Opening Date | 23 September 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | 23–27 September 2026 |
| Timings | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM |
| Organiser | Khushii Art |
Takeaway
Through landscapes, spiritual imagery and mythological narratives, Odyssey brings together several strands of Poonam Bhatnagar’s artistic practice in a single exhibition. By combining personal memory, cultural references and her distinctive webcast technique, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to engage with themes of interconnectedness, reflection and storytelling. In doing so, it contributes to ongoing conversations about the role of art in preserving cultural memory while creating space for contemporary interpretation.
