Iconic Indian Modernist Painter’s Vision Revisited at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Mumbai, India – From December 11th to 16th, 2024, the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai will host a landmark retrospective celebrating the life and work of Prafulla Dahanukar, one of India’s pioneering modernist painters. Organised by her daughters, Gauri Mehta and Gopika Dahanukar, the exhibition commemorates the tenth anniversary of her passing. Curated by Dr. Beth Citron, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Asian Art at the Asia Society Museum, New York, the retrospective features Dahanukar’s iconic paintings, personal sketches, early prints, and celebrated murals.
This exhibition provides a rare opportunity to view some of Dahanukar’s most influential works, many of which have not been shown publicly before. It highlights the emotional intensity and intellectual depth of her art, offering a visual and emotional tribute to her innovative exploration of colour, form, and material.
Special Events
Panel Discussion: ‘Ecologies of Abstraction’
Date: Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM onwards
Venue: Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Presented by the Asia Society India Centre, a special panel discussion will explore the theme of abstraction in Dahanukar’s work. Curator Dr Beth Citron will be joined by art historian Savita Apte and Dahanukar’s daughter, Gopika Dahanukar, to discuss the artist’s early influences, innovative use of space and material, and her groundbreaking contributions to modern Indian art.
PRERNA: 10 Years of the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation
In addition to the retrospective, the exhibition will also showcase PRERNA, an exhibition commemorating 10 years of the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation. This exhibition will feature works by emerging artists from the Foundation’s Kalanand Fellowship, which continues Dahanukar’s legacy of nurturing and supporting young artistic talent across India.
Exhibition Overview
The retrospective provides a visual and emotional tribute to Dahanukar’s groundbreaking career. It traces her evolution from her early studies at J.J. School of Art, where she won the Gold Medal in 1955, to her transformative years at Atelier 17 in Paris, where she developed her signature gestural abstraction. After returning to Mumbai in 1961, Dahanukar became part of a vibrant community of modernist artists, including M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta, and V.S. Gaitonde, while forging a distinct artistic voice.
Dahanukar’s work is celebrated for its intellectual depth and emotive power. The exhibition features her early figurative works, ink drawings, calligraphic prints, and a series of powerful abstract compositions from the 1980s and 1990s. Her murals, many of which remain in public and private spaces today, are an enduring testament to her ability to merge modernist aesthetics with a uniquely Indian sensibility.
The final phase of Dahanukar’s career will also be highlighted, showcasing her more minimalist works—characterized by horizontal bands of restrained colour—that evoke an ongoing dialogue between the inner mind and the outer world.
Inauguration by Eminent Cultural Figures
The retrospective will be inaugurated on December 10th, 2024, by two esteemed cultural icons, Dr. Saryu Doshi, a renowned art historian, and Dr. Pheroza Godrej, a distinguished patron of the arts. Their presence underscores the cultural significance of Dahanukar’s contributions to Indian art.
Quotes
Dr. Beth Citron, Curator of the Retrospective:
“Prafulla Dahanukar’s work remains a deeply intellectual and emotive exploration of abstraction, space, and colour. This retrospective offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness her artistic evolution, from early figurative works to her bold, gestural abstractions. Her contributions to modern Indian art are profound, and this exhibition is a fitting tribute to her legacy.”
Gauri Mehta and Gopika Dahanukar, Daughter of the Artist say:
“This exhibition is a celebration of my mother’s life and her unparalleled contributions to Indian art. Through this retrospective, we hope to share her vision with a new generation of art lovers, students, and artists. Her work continues to inspire us every day, and we are honoured to bring it to the public once again.”
About Prafulla Dahanukar
Prafulla Dahanukar (née Joshi) was one of India’s most pioneering modernist artists. Known for her innovative approach to gestural abstraction, Dahanukar was an integral figure in the development of modern art in post-independence India. Throughout her career, she bridged abstraction, figuration, and landscape, creating a unique visual language that reflected both intellectual rigour and emotional depth. Dahanukar was also a trailblazer for women in the art world, establishing herself as a leading voice in a predominantly male-dominated field. Her murals, paintings, and prints continue to inspire artists and collectors alike.
About Dr. Beth Citron
Dr. Beth Citron is a curator and art historian specializing in modern and contemporary Asian and Asian diaspora art. She holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania and is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Asian Art at the Asia Society Museum, in New York. Dr. Citron has curated numerous exhibitions on Indian artists, with a particular focus on abstraction and contemporary art.
About the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation
Founded in 2014 by Gopika Dahanukar and Gauri Mehta, the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation is dedicated to advancing the legacy of Prafulla Dahanukar while supporting emerging artists across India. Through the Kalanand Fellowship, the Foundation provides mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and resources to young artists, continuing Dahanukar’s vision of fostering creative talent and encouraging artistic innovation.
Exhibition Dates: 11th – 16th December 2024
Venue: Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
