Art Mumbai 2024

14 - 17 November 2024
  • A pioneering modernist and a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group, Ram Kumar (1924–2018) charted a journey from melancholic...

    A pioneering modernist and a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group, Ram Kumar (1924–2018) charted a journey from melancholic figurations to evocative abstract landscapes, exploring themes of solitude, nostalgia, and human introspection. While his oeuvre predominantly leans toward landscapes, this compelling portrait offers a rare glimpse into his expressive depth.

     

    The face, rendered in warm yet aggressive hues, stares back with an almost haunting vitality, its fragmented contours and fluid brushwork mirroring the artist’s signature abstraction. As Ram Kumar once said, “My forms are as obscure as possible, sometimes more suggestive, sometimes less”—a sentiment that resonates through the balmy patches of color and layered textures, drawing the viewer into a contemplative engagement with the subject.

  • A master of lyrical abstraction, Ganesh Haloi (b. 1936) transforms memory and landscape into poetic visual expressions, where form, color,...
    A master of lyrical abstraction, Ganesh Haloi (b. 1936) transforms memory and landscape into poetic visual expressions, where form, color, and rhythm dissolve into one another. Deeply influenced by Partition, Indian miniature traditions, and Buddhist thought, his paintings are evocative of a world reconstructed through fragments. In this piece, Haloi experiments with repetitive patterns and rapid brushwork, juxtaposing cerulean blues and vibrant yellows to create an ethereal luminosity. The work emanates a quiet mysticism, drawing the viewer into a contemplative experience where the boundaries between land, water, and air become fluid and infinite.
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    (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
  • A leading figure of Neo-Tantric abstraction, G.R. Santosh (1929–1997) fused Tantric philosophy, sacred geometry, and modernist sensibilities to create meditative...
    A leading figure of Neo-Tantric abstraction, G.R. Santosh (1929–1997) fused Tantric philosophy, sacred geometry, and modernist sensibilities to create meditative compositions that evoke the cosmic balance of Purusha and Prakriti.

    In this     semi-abstract masterpiece, Santosh makes a pioneering exploration of Tantric symbolism, introducing the Kundalini motif—an emblem of spiritual awakening. The composition intertwines figurative elements with esoteric forms, merging the energy of Tantra with the discipline of abstraction, resulting in an ethereal, pulsating rhythm of colors and forms.
    • Ganesh Pyne Untitled Pen and Ink on Paper 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. 26.2 x 21.1 cm
      Ganesh Pyne
      Untitled
      Pen and Ink on Paper
      10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.
      26.2 x 21.1 cm
      Enquire
    • Ganesh Pyne Untitled Pen & Ink on Paper 11.5" x 9" in. 29.2 x 23.1 cm
      Ganesh Pyne
      Untitled
      Pen & Ink on Paper
      11.5" x 9" in.
      29.2 x 23.1 cm
      Enquire
  • FN Souza | Untitled | Acrylic on Paper | 1993 | 15 x 22 in
    FN Souza | Untitled | Acrylic on Paper | 1993 | 15 x 22 in

  • A maverick of Indian modernism, F.N. Souza (1924–2002) was known for his bold, rebellious style that merged figurative distortion with raw emotional intensity. His paintings often challenged societal norms, religion, and human desire, using aggressive brushwork and thick black outlines to create figures pulsating with energy.

  • This 1993 acrylic is a testament to his dynamic vision—a fusion of abstraction and figuration, where distorted human forms emerge from a vibrant, earthy landscape. The contrast of green and brown tones against piercing blue sky amplifies the tension, while the central figure’s outstretched arms evoke movement and deep emotion. Souza’s exploration of form and identity resonates powerfully, encapsulating his primal, unfiltered approach to modernism.