Dhoomimal Gallery of Divergent Practices

Image Credit - Hyperglot Review

Dhoomimal Gallery of Divergent practices : The Trajectory of Printmaking

The 'Of Divergent Practice: The Trajectory of Printmakers' exhibition at Dhoomimal Gallery, curated by Ina Puri and designed by Reha Sodhi, aims to highlight the significance of printmaking and draw in more participation from younger artists. The exhibit features works by the founding members of 'Multiple Encounters' and veteran artists who served as their mentors. The showcased prints range from non-representational to simple aesthetics inspired by Japanese space and abstraction.

'Multiple Encounters' was formed in 2000 by seven printmakers, who aimed to popularize the medium and bring in more young artists. They recalled working at Garhi Studios with senior painters like Jagdish Swaminathan, Manjit Bawa, and Krishen Khanna, when they decided to form a group called the Indian Printmakers Guild in 1990. Later, a splinter group teamed up with seven artists who continued to work together and presented their first show titled 'Multiple Encounters'.

The exhibit showcases recent works by each artist, including Kavita Nayar's sensual and fragile pieces and Dattatraya Apte's impressions of textures created by thirsty earth. Anandamoy Banerji, Sushanta Guha, and Moti Zharotia's works grapple with themes of violence, social issues, and surreal landscapes respectively.

The exhibition is critical as it offers viewers a glimpse of valuable prints from different practitioners of the medium, from times past to present, and presents the trajectory of printmaking. The exhibit sheds light on the challenges faced by printmakers as they depended on the art market and collectors. Nevertheless, the artists persisted and exhibited in their individual capacities until the opportunity arose to showcase their works and Dhoomimal Gallery's archival collection.

The 'Of Divergent Practice: The Trajectory of Printmakers' exhibition is a must-visit for art enthusiasts and aspiring printmakers as it provides an in-depth perspective on the medium and its evolution over the years.

Anandamoy Banerji

Anandamoy after completing his B. F. A. in Painting from College of Art, New Delhi (1975-1980), M. F. A. in Printmaking from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan (1983-1985), and went to Camberwell College of Arts and Crafts, London for research in Printmaking under the Charles Wallace India Trust award. He has exhibited in numerous shows in India and abroad including a number of solo shows in Gallery Espace; The British Council; Lalit Kala Akademi; India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, and many other galleries in various cities. He has participated in numerous exhibitions in Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Germany, UK, USA, China, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Greece, Egypt, Norway etc.

Dattatraya Apte

Dattatraya Apte obtained Diploma in Drawing and Painting (Government of Maharashtra) and B. A. Hons. from University of Pune. He did his post Diploma in printmaking from M.S. University, Vadodara in 1980. Charles Wallace India Trust award gave him a chance to work under the guidance of Prof. Jacky Perry at Glasgow School of Art in 1999. He has exhibited in 10 one man shows in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Dattatraya has participated in numerous important exhibitions, including the International Biennale of prints, Bhopal; IV International Art Triennale, Maidacis, Poland; the 14th exhibition of the Korean Graphics Society, Seoul; Swarnarekha-Golden Jubilee Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi.

Kavita Nayar

Kavita captures the emotional realm of real-life experiences to express her thoughts that combine the technique with her pictorial presentation. She has been actively freelancing for the past four decades. Kavita obtained her Bachelor degree from Shantiniketan in Printmaking followed by Master in Painting from College of Art, New Delhi. She is the recipient of many awards and scholarships like French Govt scholarship in Paris; Charles Wallace India Trust Fellowship in Oxford; Creative Fund fellowship and residency in Luxembourg; Ministry of Culture Residency in Gyor, Hungary and French Govt residency - Mois des L'estampe in Paris. She received Senior and Junior fellowship from Ministry of HRD; Research Grant from Lalit kala Akademi; Honorable Mention in the 44th National Exhibition; invited for 10th Triennial of India; AIFACS and Sahitya Kala Youth festival award and many more. She has participated in workshops

Moti Zharotia

Moti Zharotia is a visionary who conceives art as a celebration of Life. Since childhood, he held a thoughtful and aesthetic range of views. After completing his higher secondary education, he fated to begin his journey in creative art and religiously pursued his graduation in Graphics and Painting from College of Art, New Delhi (1979).

Sushanta Guha

Sushanta Guha finished his graduation and post-graduation from Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan in 1982. He further received a fellowship by Charles Wallace India Trust Award at Camber Well College, London in 1998, followed by a Fulbright Fellowship at Manhattan Graphic Centre, New York in 2003. He held solo exhibitions at Art Konsult Gallery and Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. He has participated in important shows in India and abroad like Annual Exhibitions at Birla Academy, Kolkata; Chitra Kala Parishad, Bangalore; AIFACS, New Delhi; Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal; 4th International Biennale Caixa, Ourense, Spain; Bapha Varna 97, Bulgaria; Lithuania; Slovenia; Yugoslavia; Pusan City, South Korea; Kanagawa, Japan; VII Biennale Internationale de la Gravure D'lle - d - France and Sharjah, UAE etc. He has also participated in Multiple Encounters I & II; Exhibition of Prints at Chandigarh; Biswa Banga Sammelan Millennium show at Kolkata; Indian Printmakers Guild, New Delhi and Edge of the Century Art show, New Delhi