IAWL's The Art in Us explores Nandalal Bose and other modern masters at Art Exposure
Nandalal Bose was one of the pioneers of modern Indian art, and while we have all known him more through his larger paintings like 'Gandhi March', 'Sati' and murals like 'Descent of Ganga', 'Life of Mirabal and others, "Nandalal Bose: Postcard & More' at Art Exposure brings his more intimate works into focus.
Bose carried postcards while travelling and used the blank side as his canvas, Immediately capturing whatever caught his attention. More than 20 postcards, sent to his friends and family between 1930-1952, are on display at the Southern Avenue gallery, which has been sourced from the family of his daughter Gauri Bhanja. In a restricted space of 3.5x 5.5, much like a miniature painting. Bose captured animals, everyday life and landscapes, which were an interesting extension of his practice. While most of the cards in this show were dispatched from Santiniketan, some document his travels to places like Kharagpur, Khurja, Gopalpur and Baroda.
"Nandalal Bose is often remembered through his monumental murals and his place within the history of Indian modernism, but these postcards allow us to encounter a much more intimate Nandalal. Collected from his daughter Gauri Bhanja and his student Chitranibha, they reveal an artist who could bring the same sincerity, sensitivity and extraordinary command of line to a postcard as he did to a monumental work. Working within the smallest of formats, he observed the world with remarkable immediacy and distilled it into a few precise gestures," shared Somak Mitra, director of Art Exposure.
International Association of Women in Leadership (IAWL) hosted a special walk-through, "The Art & Us' on August 24 that gave members an opportunity to engage with the works closely, understand their context and appreciate the stories and ideas behind them. Apart from 'Nandalal Bose: Postcard & More', IAWL also encountered Indian Modern Art on the second floor, which offered a broader view of the development and diversity of modern Indian artistic expression.
The evening reflected IAWL'S effort to create experiences that allow its members to connect outside the traditional professional environment through shared Interests, learning and meaningful conversations.
Farah Khatoon
Pictures: B Halder