India through the ages
India’s recent history is reflected in an exhibition of modern art — the first in the city for many years. By Alex Dizer
The St. Petersburg Times
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Alexander Belenky
A visitor to the Stroganov Palace inspects a sculpture on display as part of an exhibition of modern Indian art there.
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A new exhibition at the Stroganov Palace titled “The Modern Art of India: Pictorial Trajectories,” traces the development of modern Indian art with selected pieces from the late 19th century through to the beginning of the 21st century. It is the first time in several decades that an exhibition focused solely on Indian art has been displayed in St. Petersburg and offers a rare opportunity to see works by internationally acclaimed Indian artists first hand, and to get acquainted with lesser-known names. The exhibition, which is part of the Year of India in Russia, is ordered chronologically, starting with colonial Indian art. After the British colonization and the dissolution of India’s princely courts, Indian artists lost much of their patronage. During the Company Period, when the British East India Company effectively ruled the country, Indian artists began to learn Western art techniques to replace the traditional styles in order to cater to the new market of British officials. It was not until Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) that these two artistic traditions were successfully combined in a Pan-Indian style, using oil on canvas to paint icons from Indian mythology with western realism. Moving into the 20th century, Indian artists broke away from Western influences, reflecting the growing opposition toward British occupancy. As a result, individualism and modernism with origins based in more traditional Indian styles became more popular. Artists such as Abanindranath Tagore used ancient murals and medieval Indian miniatures rather than British icons for inspiration in order to express notions of nationalism and swadeshi (self-rule). As the 20th century progressed, India’s turbulent political and cultural backdrop as it faced the challenges of modernization and reform offered further inspiration for artists. Mataji by Anjolie Menon, who was awarded the Padma Shree award in 2000 for exceptional contributions to Indian art, captures the difficult social transformation in a stoical elderly woman, knitting with red thread while looking out of an open window. Indian art has entered the global market at full speed. It currently boasts an annual growth of 30 to 35 percent and is the fourth most buoyant art market in the world, according to the exhibition’s curator, demonstrating how far the Indian art industry has developed since the Company Period and the extent of its international importance today. The exhibition, although only encompassing four rooms, contains a wide variety of artistic styles and offers an insight into the artistic development of the country since the 19th century. As art is a creative response to surrounding cultural phenomena, the exhibition also offers an introduction to the historical and political development of India. Other events scheduled in St. Petersburg as part of the Year of India in the upcoming months include cinema screenings and a martial arts performance. Visit www.indianconsulate.ru for more information. “Modern Indian art: Pictorial Trajectories” runs through February at the Stroganov Palace. Open daily, except Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tel: 595 4248
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