Indian Artists Navigate Tradition in Mumbai Exhibition

Curated by Veer Munshi, "Persevering Traditions: The weft and the warp" showcased the works of 14 Indian artists at Sakshi Gallery in Mumbai from 21 December to 19 January. This exhibition examined the relationship between contemporary art from the Indian subcontinent and local artistic legacies, featuring pieces that referenced cultural symbols with rich histories. Anju Dodiya's acrylic and gouache works on wallpaper drew inspiration from Indian miniature art, 17th-century Flemish paintings, Ingmar Bergman films, and 19th-century French medical texts. Surendran Nair, a Kerala school painter, integrated elements of Greek mythology, including Aristophanes's The Birds (414 BCE), alongside Kathakali dance. K.G. Subramanyam, a Baroda University educator and a pioneer of Baroda modernism, presented an untitled watercolor that fused narrative figurative art with European modernism, drawing from Kalighat, Santhal art, puppetry, and court painting. Artists like Gulammohammed Sheikh and Madhvi Parekh also engaged with modernist themes rooted in tradition. The exhibition emphasized the diversity within art histories, highlighting the regional variations in Mughal miniature painting and advocating for a nuanced understanding of historical interactions with tradition.