Celebrating the father of Modern Indian Art
An exhibition dedicated to the artworks of the legendary Goan artist, Francis Newton Souza, was recently showcased at the Dhoomimal Gallery in the Capital. On the occasion of his birth centenary on April 12, the exhibition, titled Reminiscing Souza: An Iconoclastic Vision, celebrated the artistic prowess of Souza, who co-founded Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG) in Mumbai in 1947, and went on to become a leading figure in Modern Indian Art.
Curated by Yashodhara Dalmia, the exhibition showcased around 150 seminal works from Souza’s portfolio, such as Woman Bathing Boy, Double Portrait and Red Landscape, among others.
Talking about the vision behind his curation, Dalmia shares, “From Souza’s dynamic human figures to still-life paintings and even his nude portraits, the aim was to represent the various facets of his oeuvre.”
Pertaining to the themes of Souza’s work, Uday Jain, director of the art gallery, shares, “Initially perceived as a drawback, his tendency to reflect his life’s experiences into his work became his greatest strength. Unlike many artists who prioritise storytelling or refinement, Sou rt emanates from his identity.”
Another highlight of the event was the screening of Vinod Bhardwaj’s documentary feature, FN Souza: Father of Modern Indian Art, which was released on this occasion and elicited a warm response from the attendees.
Discussing the work behind the documentary, Bhardwaj shares, “It was a three-yearlong process to complete this film. But the research didn’t take a long time since I was in touch with him (Souza) since the ’80s and have been privy to his life.”