Outliers, Rebels, Disruptors: Delhi Silpi Chakra, 70 years on

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.