Indian Sculptor Mrinalini Mukherjee Dies at 65 Following New Delhi Solo Exhibition Opening

Indian sculptor Mrinalini Mukherjee passed away at age 65 shortly after her solo exhibition opened at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. Born in Mumbai in 1949, she was celebrated for innovative sculptural work that drew inspiration from natural forms and forces. Mukherjee pioneered the use of dyed hemp ropes, knotting and weaving them into ambiguous forms like her 1993 piece Basanti, which suggests both floral and vaginal imagery. During her final decade, she expanded her practice to include bronze, creating increasingly large and complex works. Her artistic lineage included parents Benode Behari and Leela Mukherjee, both artists themselves. Mukherjee studied art at MS University and learned mural design under K.G. Subramanyan. She exhibited regularly with Nature Morte gallery in New Delhi and achieved international recognition as one of the first Indian artists featured at the Sydney Biennale in 1986. Her work was also presented at Modern Art Oxford in 1993.