Marvellous miniatures
Avijit Dutta, curator of the show, highlights how intricate and effortless the brush strokes were.
Drawing inspiration from various religious and cultural influences, around 80 miniature paintings — all from different schools — Pala, Rajasthani, Pahari, Deccani and Mughal, among others, are on display at the Akhanda Ekarasa exhibition, collated by ICA Gallery at the Kalakriti Art Gallery. Myriad scenes such as a bridal procession, a royal hunting party and a nocturnal tryst of lovers are captured in intricate fashion.
The exhibition boasts of an exquisite collection of miniature paintings from 1710-2016, from the ancestral collection of Avinabh Bansal of Jaipur. Elaborating on the artworks he says, “The earliest work on display is from Bundi, Rajasthan, and depicts a Maharaja dancing on a terrace with his attendants. Another miniature shows Goddess Lakshmi with elephants from the collection of the Maharaja of Bikaner. Most of the painters belonged to a royal court and would depict the daily routine through their paintings.”
Avijit Dutta, curator of the show, highlights how intricate and effortless the brush strokes were. “The colour and the minute work speak a lot about the artists’ creativity. The paintings are centuries old, but you can still see the vibrant hues. Now, very few artists take up miniature painting as it is painstaking. The recent ones are by people from Rajasthan who may not be famous, but their works have their own voice,” he says.
On display is also a wooden gate from the 1980s with miniature paintings drawn on it, portraying various tales. “The quality of the art on the door is magnificent,” says Avinabh.