Seeking a Poetry of the Real: The Political Works of K. G. Subramanyan

Art Heritage, in collaboration with the Seagull Foundation for the Arts, presents Seeking a Poetry of the Real: The Political Works of K. G. Subramanyan, a powerful tribute to one of modern India’s great artists, who passed away in 2016. K. G. Subramanyan, known as Mani-Da, was a creative painter, muralist, toy maker, and scholar. His art evolved through years of interaction with India’s living traditions, advocating for modern Indian art to learn from indigenous artisanal practices. They were marked by irony, wit, and lampooning, allowing the mundane and archetypal to rise in a state of playful levity, transcending political and cultural boundaries. The exhibition focuses on Subramanyan’s work from the late 1970s onwards, highlighting his responses to the political upheavals that shook India during this period. It features seminal works that express his concern with the political misrepresentation of India’s rich and tolerant culture. Key pieces include The Bangladesh Terracottas (1971/1976), This City is not for Burning (1993), The Tale of the Talking Face (1989), Anatomy Lesson (2008), and The War of the Relics (2012). Contributions to the exhibition catalog are provided by prominent figures such as Prof. R. Siva Kumar, Geeta Kapur, Roobina Karode, Gayatri Sinha, and Jyoti Bhatt.

For the catalogue of this exhibition, please contact the gallery at ahg@artheritagegallery.com