5 art exhibitions to check out this June

Arshia DharPublished on Jun 15, 2023

5 art exhibitions to bookmark for June

From stunning Kalighat pat to Buddhadev Mukherjee’s quirky little paintings that are a lot like poetry, there is a range of art to look at this month

From stunning Kalighat pat to Buddhadev Mukherjee’s quirky little paintings that are a lot like poetry, there is a range of art to check out this month

The month of June ushers in not just the much-awaited monsoon, but also a host of art exhibitions across the country. This time around, they range from a showcase of historic artefacts to celebrations of the lives of stalwarts who reshaped the cultural landscape of India. Here’s more on them.

Eyes of the Skin by Julien Segard and Rathin BarmanThis two-person exhibition by Julien Segard and Rathin Barman alludes to the seminal work of Finnish architect and academic Juhani Pallasmaa on architectures and the five human senses. The show forges a conversation between landscape, architecture, and the built environment through art on paper along with paintings and sculptures, opening a dialogue on our perceived and peripheral realities within our urban field of vision.Where: Experimenter, Colaba, MumbaiOn till: 15 July — **Eyes of the Skin** **by Julien Segard and Rathin Barman**
This two-person exhibition by Julien Segard and Rathin Barman alludes to the seminal work of Finnish architect and academic Juhani Pallasmaa on architectures and the five human senses. The show forges a conversation between landscape, architecture, and the built environment through art on paper along with paintings and sculptures, opening a dialogue on our perceived and peripheral realities within our urban field of vision.
**Where:** Experimenter, Colaba, Mumbai
**On till:** 15 July

A Demonstration of Ornamentation (Group show)This group exhibition showcasing the works of artists Jitish Kallat, Reena Saini Kallat, L.N. Tallur, V. Viswanadhan, Asim Waqif, among others, is a display of forms, textures, and mediums that hide in plain sight to elevate the experience of viewing and interacting with art.Where: Nature Morte Gallery, Dhan Mill Compound, New DelhiOn till: 2 July — **A Demonstration of Ornamentation** **(Group show)**
This group exhibition showcasing the works of artists Jitish Kallat, Reena Saini Kallat, L.N. Tallur, V. Viswanadhan, Asim Waqif, among others, is a display of forms, textures, and mediums that hide in plain sight to elevate the experience of viewing and interacting with art.
**Where:** Nature Morte Gallery, Dhan Mill Compound, New Delhi
**On till:** 2 July

His Art As Language by K.G. SubramanyanThe second of the two-part exhibition spotlighting the works of artist K.G. Subramanyan (1924-2016), this show marks the run-up to his birth centenary in 2024. Subramanyan, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, had a career in art and writing that spanned six decades and multiple milestones, all of which shaped modern Indian art in powerful ways. The selection of objects on display has been determined by two crucial influences in Subramanyan’s career: The artist’s training at Santiniketan in the 1940s, and his exploration of textiles during his stint at the Weavers’ Service Centre between 1958-1960.Where: Chatterjee & Lal, Colaba, MumbaiOn till: 29 July — **His Art As Language** **by K.G. Subramanyan**
The second of the two-part exhibition spotlighting the works of artist K.G. Subramanyan (1924-2016), this show marks the run-up to his birth centenary in 2024. Subramanyan, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, had a career in art and writing that spanned six decades and multiple milestones, all of which shaped modern Indian art in powerful ways. The selection of objects on display has been determined by two crucial influences in Subramanyan’s career: The artist’s training at Santiniketan in the 1940s, and his exploration of textiles during his stint at the Weavers’ Service Centre between 1958-1960.
**Where:** Chatterjee & Lal, Colaba, Mumbai
**On till:** 29 July

The Babu & the Bazaar: Art from 19th and Early 20th century BengalThe iconic Kalighat temple in Kolkata was, and continues to be, a major attraction for tourists and locals alike, mostly comprising devotees of the Hindu goddess. Its popularity aided the growth of the adjoining bazaar that primarily sells memorabilia and curios to tourists, including paintings in watercolours on paper. This type of painting is now broadly referred to as the ‘Kalighat pat,’ and in this exhibition, these pats—depicting both religious and secular themes—take centre stage. They have been positioned against comparable works across the genres of commissioned oil paintings and mass-produced prints.The juxtaposition of this iconography attempts to shed light on Kolkata’s history, its culture, class biases, and gendered hierarchies. The artworks on display are over a 100 years old, and are registered historical artefacts that will not be exported from India.Where: Delhi Art Gallery, Janpath Road, DelhiOn till: 1 July — **The Babu & the Bazaar: Art from 19th and Early 20th century Bengal**
The iconic Kalighat temple in Kolkata was, and continues to be, a major attraction for tourists and locals alike, mostly comprising devotees of the Hindu goddess. Its popularity aided the growth of the adjoining bazaar that primarily sells memorabilia and curios to tourists, including paintings in watercolours on paper. This type of painting is now broadly referred to as the ‘Kalighat pat,’ and in this exhibition, these *pats*—depicting both religious and secular themes—take centre stage. They have been positioned against comparable works across the genres of commissioned oil paintings and mass-produced prints.
The juxtaposition of this iconography attempts to shed light on Kolkata’s history, its culture, class biases, and gendered hierarchies. The artworks on display are over a 100 years old, and are registered historical artefacts that will not be exported from India.
**Where:** Delhi Art Gallery, Janpath Road, Delhi
**On till:** 1 July

Mirrors of the Mind by Buddhadev MukherjeeArtist Buddhadev Mukherjee likens small works to “poems,” ones that bring immediate joy and inject a burst of energy into the beholder. His philosophy is translated on to the curation on display at this exhibition that captures the gentle and kindred artistic spirit of the artist who was trained under stalwarts like Jogen Chowdhury and K. G. Subramanyan.Where: Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Ballard Estate, MumbaiOn Till: 20 July — **Mirrors of the Mindby Buddhadev Mukherjee**
Artist Buddhadev Mukherjee likens small works to “poems,” ones that bring immediate joy and inject a burst of energy into the beholder. His philosophy is translated on to the curation on display at this exhibition that captures the gentle and kindred artistic spirit of the artist who was trained under stalwarts like Jogen Chowdhury and K. G. Subramanyan.
**Where:** Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Ballard Estate, Mumbai
**On Till:** 20 July

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5 art exhibitions to bookmark for June

From stunning Kalighat pat to Buddhadev Mukherjee’s quirky little paintings that are a lot like poetry, there is a range of art to check out this month

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