Nov 03 2023 to Apr 28 2024 11 a.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

National Gallery Of Modern Art

49, GF, Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Rd, Vasanth Nagar 560052

Event Description

The National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru is pleased to present Haripura Panel- Nandalal Bose, an in-house curated exhibition, the first-ever comprehensive showcase of 77 artworks of Haripura 

The Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri. Thaawarchand Gehlot has kindly consented to inaugurate the exhibition on 3rd November 2023, at 4:00 p.m. in the august presence of Chief-guest Shri. Sudhakar Rao (Retd. IAS), Shri. Chiranjiv Singh (Retd. IAS), Smt. M.J. Kamalakshi, Artist and former General Secretary CKP, and Ms. Nazneen Banu, Director, NGMA Bengaluru and Mumbai.

NGMA has a resplendent repository with 6800 works of art of Nandalal Bose as paintings, graphic prints, drawings and sketches. Among these works, we have the landmark suite of temperas popularly known as Haripura Panels.

Says, Nazneen Banu, Director, NGMA Bengaluru and Mumbai,  “Nandalal Bose, popularly known as Master Moshai is considered a pioneer in the field of Modern Indian Art. He came from a modest Bengali Family of Kharagpur in Munger Dist. of Bihar and earned academic qualifications from the Central Collegiate School, Calcutta, and Calcutta School of Arts. He gained fame for his distinctive "Indian style" and celebrated Indian mythology, women's beauty, and village life charm. He began his artistic exploration in the fervour of the Swadeshi Movement, rejecting the Western colonial norms of art and taking inspiration from the ancient Ajanta Murals that had a deep influence on the young artist who also became part of an international circle of artists and writers that endeavored to revive classical Indian Culture. His works broadly reflect the changing landscape, portraying people, and places at a time when modern India’s cultural development was at its threshold. His unique artistic skills and techniques were refined under the supervision of Abanindranath Tagore”.

Nandalal was invited by Gandhi for a multi-dimensional assignment to create an entire township for the Congress session in Haripura, Gujarat. Gandhi wanted the venue to be free of urban influences. He wanted the township to be built out of local materials and to have exhibits by local artisans. Nandalal took charge of the ambitious project and the result exceeded all expectations. Embarking on this ambitious project, Nandlal Bose visited “Vithalnagar” a small settlement near Haripura, and spent many weeks observing and sketching the local life and village culture. About 400 paintings were created for the decoration of the venue of which about 84 were created by Bose alone, 77 of these are on display as part of this important exhibition. Bose created monumental panels in Haripura, Gujarat, as a symbol of the Indian freedom movement. The panel, commissioned for the 1938 Haripura Congress Session, was a work of art that transcended time and space, showcasing the essence of India's historical heritage. The panel is depicted with serenity and strength, and his iconic spinning wheel, the charkha, symbolizes self-reliance and non-violent resistance. Bose surrounded Gandhi with various Indian icons, including ancient deities and folkloric heroes. The panel was adorned with regal colours, including saffron, green, white, and gold leaf accents. The panel was met with awe and reverence, and Mahatma Gandhi called it a work of genius.

He was also entrusted with the historic responsibility of beautifying and decorating the original manuscript of the Constitution of India. An important task that he undertook at the culmination of his artistic career and successfully executed with his disciple Rammanohar.

Bose received numerous prestigious awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Fellow of Lalit Kala Akademi, Deshikottama, Honorary D. Litt, and the Tagore Birth Centenary Medal.

The exhibition at NGMA B promises to be remarkable. This spectacular show honours one of India's most recognized artists, Nandalal Bose, whose incredible life and art have left an everlasting stamp on our country's cultural fabric. Nandalal Bose's Haripura Panel is a treasured remnant of India's past, a reminder of the freedom struggle and the artistry that memorialized it. It is a monument to Bose's regal grace in approaching his craft - a royal legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists and patriots alike. The exhibition also showcases a copy of the manuscript of the Constitution of India, a linocut print, the artist has depicted Mahatma Gandhi leading the Dandi March and 77 original Haripura Panels.