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.