Louiz Banks: Art meets Jazz MP4 Project
We are proud to present a groundbreaking MP4 project that seamlessly merges the worlds of music and visual art.
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Jamini Roy's Influence: A Critique by Shahid Suhrawardy on the First Exhibition of the Calcutta Group
On 17th March 1945, Shahid Suhrawardy, the art critic for the esteemed daily The Statesman, wrote a critique on the first exhibition of the Calcutta Group - a collective of eight young artists whose motto was that “Art should be international and inter-dependent”.
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Kumari Nayika: Where Art Meets Empowerment
Prinseps, in collaboration with CITTA India and French artist Hélène Guétary, invites you to Kumari Nayika, an extraordinary exhibition that showcases the boundless power of imagination and education. This unique event, held on 14th and 15th December 2024 at Kathiwada City House, Mumbai, brings to life a visual narrative co-created by Hélène and sixteen young girls from the Rajkumari Ratnavati School in Jaisalmer. Through a captivating photographic fresco and striking portraits, the exhibition tells the story of Princess Rimjhim, a mythical figure born of the Sun and the River, embodying resilience, sustainability, and empowerment.
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Rathin Maitra’s American Sojourn: Chronicles of Art and Culture
Today, I will share a few words about my experiences in America with you all. Naturally, it is not possible to talk about everything related to this vast country in such a brief period of time.
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Artistic Legacy: Rathin Maitra's Reflection on Nandalal Bose
In the blossoming of modern Indian painting, among those nurtured under the tutelage of the revered master Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose emerged as the foremost figure and a trailblazer. He devoted his entire life to the serene practice of restraint, patience and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of art.
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Writings On Art by Rathin Maitra
Art is regarded as a part of culture, but it is important to remember that there are other components as well, such as the education system, social control, political structure, economy, religious belief and so on. Due to the interrelationship of these elements, art cannot be judged in isolation. Art is molded by the social, economic and political milieu.
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Kamaladevi’s Legacy & Bhanu Athaiya’s Craft: Weaving Culture into Cinema
Bhanu Rajopadhye Athaiya’s work as a costume designer was not merely an artistic pursuit; it was deeply rooted in India’s cultural revival, a process significantly influenced by the efforts of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Kamaladevi, a pioneering force behind India’s handloom revival, brought traditional fabrics to the forefront of both fashion and cinema, shaping the way Indian textiles were appreciated in urban spaces.
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Rathin Maitra on Gobardhan Ash: Powerful Artist Inconspicuous from Public Eye
Today, my mind drifts back to the evocative days of the 1930s. My journey through Art School was still unfinished in those days, with lessons yet to unfold. During those days, a small circle of us artist-friends would often set out together, sketchpads in hands, to capture the world outdoors through sketching once classes were over.
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Last Page of “Ardhashatavarshe Academy of Fine Arts” (Fifty years of AFA) by Kamal Sarkar
I have generally seen her (Lady Ranu Mookerjee) become active by relying on the Academy since 1950. Lady Ranu was then a member of the Sahitya Chakra 'Rabibasar’, At that time, she also held the position of the president of the Academy of Fine Arts.
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Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Shared Legacy of Bhanu Athaiya and J.J. School of Art
As we trace Bhanu Athaiya’s creative journey back to her roots in Kolhapur, we uncover a fascinating commonality between her, M.V. Dhurandhar, and John Lockwood Kipling. All three artists celebrated the essence of Indian life and craftsmanship, particularly through their depictions of fakirs and artisans.
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Inside Keren SouzaKohn's home studio: Exploring her life and art
As we once again visited Keren SouzaKohn's lively home studio nestled amidst the lush green paddies and red roads of Saligao, our gaze fell on her colourful artworks reflecting life in Goa. Splashes of green, blue and intimate depictions of unhurried life in the coastal paradise uncovered vibrant portrayals of quiet village moments, the local folk and bustling markets. This immediately made us wonder about her artistic journey so far, and hence we embarked on yet another interview focusing on the life and art of Keren SouzaKohn.
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Nicholas Roerich: Transcending Borders
A qualified lawyer, trained painter, an explorer and archaeologist, a poet and historian, a scientist, philosopher and an advocate for peace, Nicholas Roerich was a man who donned many hats. Roerich was born in St Petersburg in 1874 to an affluent family. His father was a well established lawyer who insisted Roerich completed his law studies. However, his passion for exploration, led him to create a painting, ‘The Messenger’, which was purchased by the Moscow Museum.
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The Art and Activism of Chittaprosad
Chittaprosad’s body of work was a visceral response to the pain and turmoil around him in mid-20th century India. His oeuvre echoes Nina Simone’s rhetorical question: How can you be an artist and not reflect the times? His works seethe with rage yet weep with compassion for the suffering. Chittaprosad Bhattacharya holds up a mirror to society and we peer into it, not able to look away. We are inflamed, enchanted, disconcerted and angered all at once.
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Modernism to Crypto - Sneak Peak at our February 2025 Exhibition
This would be an important never-before-seen exhibition exploring six decades of Modernism in Indian art and avant-garde art on the blockchain.
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Unraveling Francis Newton Souza in Saligao
This research originates from an insightful question-and-answer session with Keren SouzaKohn, the daughter of Francis Newton Souza. Set against the backdrop of the red earth roads, lush green paddy fields, and winding lanes of Saligao, Goa—Souza's birthplace—our conversation unveiled fascinating possibilities. What began as a simple dialogue soon transformed into a path-breaking interview, shedding new light on the art of F.N. Souza and the influences that shaped his work.
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Keren SouzaKohn: Reflections on Art, Family, and the Legacy of F.N. Souza
In an exclusive interview, Keren SouzaKohn delves into her unique upbringing under the shadow of her father, the legendary artist F.N. Souza. Growing up in a household steeped in art and creativity, Keren shares her early experiences, the profound influence of her father, and the eclectic mix of creative influences that shaped her artistic perspective.
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Keren SouzaKohn on artist and father F.N. Souza
SouzaKohn, daughter of the legendary Indian artist Francis Newton Souza, is a distinguished artist in her own right. Her evocative paintings capture everyday objects and familiar environments, transforming them into dynamic compositions filled with passion and vigor. Born in London, Keren completed her foundation course at Hornsey College of Art and earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Ravensbourne College of Art. Her extensive career includes numerous solo exhibitions, with a recent focus on her work with oils.
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Amina Ahmed Kar: Of Artistry and Academia
Amina Ahmed Kar’s intellectual and creative pursuits were ever evolving. Her dual legacy as an artist and academic is reflected in her oeuvre, which remains largely unexplored. As one of India's early abstract artists, she created works across various mediums. Call it the academic in her who would leave no leaf unturned or an artist in search of her creative expression, Kar’s body of work transformed endlessly.
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Calcutta Group Formation - Notes from Shanu Lahiri's book
Shanu Lahiri was Nirode Majumdar's sister and reminisces here about the formation of the Calcutta group in her book ' Smritir Collage' . The quotes and translations are from the same.
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Formation of the Calcutta Group - Anushtup Archives
The text translates pages from an article in Anushtup, a leftist journal that documents the beginnings of the Calcutta group and their Bombay affiliations via P.C. Joshi et al.
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