…. Curator’s Pen by Prabuddha Ghosh

Color, Ink, Stone, and Spirit: Art in India’s freedom movement By Prabuddha Ghosh While the slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Vande Mataram” echoed across India’s streets and battlefields, a quieter revolution stirred in studios, village courtyards, newspapers, and pamphlets. Fought not with rifles, but with brushes, chisels, ink, and pigment, this cultural resistance stirred emotions, evoked unity, and galvanized a people. From paintings and sculptures to political cartoons and folk illustrations, visual art became a force of resistance—transcending language, class, and region to forge a shared national consciousness. One of the first sparks of this movement was lit by Abanindranath Tagore , whose Bharat Mata offered a powerful new vision of the nation—not as a colony, but as a divine mother figure. Clad in saffron, holding a book, grain, cloth, and a rosary, she symbolized knowledge, self-reliance, and spiritual strength. The painting replaced colonial aesthetics with an India...

Krishen Khanna at 100: A Centenary Tribute to the Painter of the People As the world m arks the birth centenary of Krishen Khanna , we pause to honour an artist who chronicled the soul of a nation through the eyes of its people. A genre painter and narrative artist of profound depth, Khanna spent more than seven decades interpreting life not as an isolated individual but as a sensitive witness to human experience — one who shaped canvas and clay with compassion, memory, and quiet resilience. Born in 1925 in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan), Khanna’s artistic vision was profoundly shaped by the cataclysmic rupture of Partition . Like millions, he endured the trauma of displacement. Yet what set him apart was his enduring ability to transform pain into empathy, and empathy into art. The Partition not only moved him geographically but also emotionally and spiritually — steering his life-long engagement with themes of loss, survival, and resilience . His work, while intensely perso...

  The Contemporary Art Scene: A Crisis of Depth and Authenticity by Prabuddha Ghosh In recent years, the contemporary art world has witnessed an unsettling shift—one that raises critical questions about the integrity and future of artistic expression. While innovation and experimentation are vital in any creative field, today’s art scene seems increasingly dominated by a "so light" mentality. Many artists approach their practice with a concerning lack of seriousness regarding authenticity, depth, and conceptual grounding. Rather than exploring meaningful subjects or pushing creative boundaries, a growing number of artists appear more focused on replicating popular trends and catering to market demands. Originality and introspection are often sidelined in favor of commercial appeal. As a result, the art produced is frequently shallow—both in aesthetic and message—lacking the emotional and intellectual resonance that once defined significant works. This copycat culture, ...

The Unwritten Verse: Tagore’s Soul in Color and Form (Commemorating the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore) by Prabuddha Ghosh Rabindranath Tagore , fondly and universally known as Gurudev , is widely celebrated as a Nobel laureate in literature. However, what remains lesser known is his profound and unexpected entry into the world of visual art during the later years of his life. While primarily recognized for his poetry, prose, songs, drama, novels, and philosophical thought, Tagore’s foray into painting revealed yet another dimension of his boundless creativity. Although he began this artistic journey relatively late, his artwork resonates with an intensity and vividness that are both enigmatic and deeply human. His artistic expressions are far from mere historical artifacts—they are living, breathing creations that continue to captivate the contemporary imagination. Here's a closer look at why Tagore’s art remains remarkably relevant today: Tagore’s paintings ...