Pata Dekhabo? at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art Recasts Pattachitra as Living Contemporary Practice
The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi is hosting an exhibition titled Pata Dekhabo? (Shall I Show You a Pata?), which highlights Pattachitra as a modern artistic expression. Situated in the Art Passage, the exhibition comprises 46 replicas and reproductions, with original scrolls and paintings digitally printed for preservation. It begins with three scrolls that illustrate ancient mythologies, accompanied by archival music. The second part explores the transformation of Pattachitra influenced by the migration of Santhal Patuas and British colonialism, showcasing pieces such as Babu and Bibi and Murder and the Bazaar. Notable modernists like Jamini Roy and Ramkinkar Baij are featured, along with a Gazi scroll. The concluding section presents contemporary scrolls and the revival of Kalighat since 1987, with artists signing their creations.
Key facts
- Pata Dekhabo? (Shall I Show You a Pata?) is on view at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi.
- The exhibition presents 46 reproductions from the museum's collection alongside replicas from other institutions.
- Original scrolls and paintings were reproduced as digital prints on paper pasted on cloth and enlarged for safety reasons.
- The Art Passage, a sky bridge connecting Nexus Select Citywalk and DLF South Court, hosts the exhibition.
- Pattachitra derives from the Sanskrit patta (cloth) and chitra (picture) and comes from Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bangladesh.
- A thirteen-meter Gazi scroll from nineteenth-century Bengal in the Murshidabad style features fifty-four frames depicting Gazi Pir and Manik Pir.
- Kalighat painting's revival began in 1987 with Kalam Patua, a postmaster who taught himself the art form.
- Artists Bapi and Tagar Chitrakar created wall murals for the exhibition and were encouraged to sign their works.
Entities
Artists
- Madhu Chitrakar
- Kalam Patua
- Jamini Roy
- Ramkinkar Baij
- Bapi Chitrakar
- Tagar Chitrakar
- Moyna Chitrakar
- Joydeb Chitrakar
- Rani Chitrakar
- Piku Chitrakar
- Gazi Pir
- Manik Pir
- George W. Bush
- Osama bin Laden
- Mamta Banerjee
- Patua
- Jadopatua
Institutions
- Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
- Nexus Select Citywalk
- DLF South Court
- Momus
Locations
- Delhi
- India
- Odisha
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
- Bangladesh
- Medinipur
- Naya Village
- Calcutta
- Murshidabad
- Purulia
- Ramkanali
- Pingla
- Shantiniketan
- Tarakeshwar
- New Delhi
- Bengal