Jagdish Swaminathan 1928-1994

An Exploration of Linearity in South Asian from the 20th Century to the Present

Dhoomimal Gallery (est. 1936), the country’s oldest art gallery, which has had a long history of supporting many of India’s Modern masters, presents Lines (By) Lines (2 April – 15 May 2022), curated by Manmeet K Walia, an exhibition which showcases abstract art practices in the works of 29 leading South Asian and diaspora artists from the 20th Century to the present.

Through the prism of linearity and lines, the show explores how a diverse spectrum of modern and contemporary art from the region has explored abstraction, across painting, sculpture and multimedia art practices. Addressing the variation in narratives and approach to the language of lines over different ages, the exhibition also initiates a conversation between the social and artistic concerns of the mid-20th Century, when pre-independent India was first exposed to western influence, and South Asia’s contemporary culture.

The exhibition explores the works of some of the most iconic names in South Asian art, such as V.S. Gaitonde, S. H. Raza, J. Swaminathan, F.N. Souza, Nasreen Mohamedi, Zarina Hashmi and Mehlli Gobhai, alongside cutting edge multidisciplinary practices and site-specific installations by artists working at the intersection of art, architecture, textile design, sound and digital media.

South Asian contemporary artists showcased include Rana Begum, Gopi Gajwani, Shobha Broota, Parul Gupta, Shruti Mahajan, Rewati Shahani, Noor Ali Chagani, Niyeti Chaddha, Meghna Gavireddy, Purvai Rai, Al-Qawi Nanavati and Varun Desai amongst others.

The exhibition’s curator, Manmeet K Walia, has studied literature, and curation at Central St. Martins (London) and the Sotheby’s Institute. Shifting from a career in journalism, as a contributor to leading newspapers and magazines in India, since 2016 she has worked on multiple contemporary art exhibitions across digital and physical platforms.

“The show is designed to take the viewer on an exploration through time, presenting insights to the lives and works of artists from the subcontinent who have used linearity as a tool to respond to their times, to create languages and new worlds through their art” - Manmeet K Walia, Curator of Lines (By) Lines

“Dhoomimal Gallery has had a long history of being a meeting point for conversations about Indian art and Lines (By) Lines weaves a dialogue between many of the iconic artists in the gallery’s collection and contemporary voices. Our hope is that the show, and the talks planned with artists and curators, will offer a unique opportunity for diverse audiences to experience abstract art across a range of important artists” - Uday Jain, Director, Dhoomimal Gallery (DMG)

The Delhi Silpi Chakra was formed on the 25th of March 1949 as an answer to the woes of artists in Delhi, who felt the need of a platform and encourage new ideas. Their slogan, "Art illuminates Life", was to further the idea of art in the everyday lives of people and build a space for ideations in the capital of Independent India. Along with the Silpi Chakra, the Dhoomimal Gallery plated a crucial role in the development of the modern art movement(s) providing an early platform and much needed patronage for new voices. The exhibition includes artists who actively engaged with the Silpi Chakra as members, founders, office bearers, and associates over the years. More than 7 decades later, we present a nuanced re-look at these artists, some known and others less so, who came together in post-Independence Delhi and went on to significantly influence the trajectories of art in India in the second half of the 20th Century.