Permanent Collections
Exhibition at Bengaluru: “Signposts of the Times
...from the collection of the NGMA”.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the new
branch, the NGMA presents an exhibition titled
“Signposts of the Times ...from the
collection of the NGMA”. This exhibition
traces the trajectory of Indian art from the
18th century to the current trends in the 21st
century, and charts the development of modernism
in Indian art.
Modernism in Indian art developed on its own
terms, in contexts that were entirely different
from those of Western industrialised nations.
The journey of India’s art parallels that of her
history, as she evolved from a colony into a
modern nation. Art developed in tandem with
local exigencies, with artists responding to the
socio-political and economic imperatives of each
era.
The roots of the development of modern Indian
art can be located in the earliest encounters of
artists with western trends from the 18th and
19th centuries. Art also emerged as an important
tool during the nationalist movement. After
independence, many artists groups worked towards
the creation of a visual language for a modern
nation. In the contemporary era, with the
development of the ‘post-modern’, India has
engaged with global trends on major
international platforms. “Signposts of the
Times... from the collection of the NGMA”
re-discovers the remarkable landmarks in this
vibrant and exciting journey, through
masterpieces from its phenomenal repository.
More than 500 works from the repository of NGMA
at New Delhi have been carefully identified and
selected to be showcased in this exhibition, for
the benefit of viewers who do not have access to
collections elsewhere. Many of the works would
be on view for the first time in this part of
the country. These include paintings, sculpture,
prints and photographs.
The NGMA Bengaluru will also serve as a platform
for both national and international exhibitions.
Several exhibitions under the cultural exchange
programme could now be showcased at this new
centre with the objective of exhibiting the
best, and thus in turn being a stage for the
cultural ethos of our times in this era of
globalisation.
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