In 2023, Bikaner House, New Delhi, hosted a prestigious art exhibition that brought together an extraordinary array of works by some of the most celebrated Indian artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. This exhibition offered a unique opportunity to experience the evolution of Indian art through the lens of iconic creators such as Krishen Khanna, Sohan Qadri, Satish Gujral, and Shanti Dave.
The show featured a diverse selection of mediums, including oil on canvas, ink on paper, acrylic, mixed media, and bronze sculptures. Notable pieces included Krishen Khanna's poignant "The Humiliation of Draupadi" (1986), which depicted a powerful moment from the Mahabharata, and F N Souza's dynamic "The Goddess Artemis Sets Actaeon's Own Hounds to Devour Him" (1984), which captured the raw intensity of mythological drama.
The exhibition also highlighted the work of pioneers like Nicholas Roerich, with his serene "St. Mercurius of Smolensk" (1919), and modern masters such as Ram Kumar and S H Raza, whose abstract compositions and meditative landscapes have left an indelible mark on Indian art. Other featured artists included Prabhakar Barwe, with his minimalist "Ivory Eyes" (1976), and M F Husain, known for his vibrant and evocative representations of Indian life and mythology.
Bikaner House, with its historic grandeur, provided the perfect backdrop for this collection, offering visitors an immersive experience that celebrated both the legacy and the ongoing evolution of Indian art. The exhibition not only paid homage to the masters but also invited viewers to explore the rich tapestry of India's artistic journey through the decades.
