Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch has said that Amrita Sher-Gil flashed through the Indian artistic horizon like an incandescent meteor.
Her place in the trajectory of Indian modern art is unquestionably pre eminent. Her aesthetic sensibility shows not surprisingly a blend of European and Indian elements.
Her command over handling of oil medium and use of colour, as well as her vigorous brushwork and strong feeling for composition, all go towards giving a dazzling quality to her genius. Amrita Sher-Gil was already a legend as a young woman painter in the early thirties of the last century in the art world of India.
She said that she is happy to note that the NGMA, New Delhi, has one of the finest collections of Amrita Sher-Gil. She said, she is pleased with the initiatives of the NGMA, New Delhi for curating well-researched and scholarly exhibitions and related events in-house.
It is for the first time that almost the entire NGMA collection of around 100 works is being showcased in an exhibition, including many paintings that have rarely been displayed before. The exhibition has been curated by Yashodhara Dalmia.
This impressive and arresting collection of her paintings is supplemented by an illuminating display of text and images entitled, Remembering Amrita Sher-Gil. This focuses on the artistic genius and mercurial personality of Amrita Sher-Gil, which have a bearing on her paintings. To further contextualise Amrita Sher-Gil’s modernism, an audio-visual highlighting the European art scene in the early 20th century, conceptualised by Ella Datta, is an additional feature of this significant show.
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi began the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Amrita Sher-Gil on 31st January, 2013. It was launched by Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
In the opening event of the Birth Centenary Year Celebrations of Amrita Sher-Gil, the NGMA, New Delhi organised activities such as Release of the Special Cover , Release of two NGMA Portfolios on Amrita Sher-Gil , Special Display of works of art of Amrita Shergil presenting her as an iconic personality at the permanent gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi , Screening of a film on Amrita Sher-Gil directed by Navina Sundaram entitled ‘A Family Album’ was also organised during the ceremony and Slide-show presentation of the works of art of Amrita Sher-Gil.
Later during the year, the Digital Panel Exhibition entitled ‘Remembering Amrita’, portraying her as an iconic personality at Hall IV, UNESCO was inaugurated on 24th September, 2013.
It was followed by the events such as Screening of film titled “Amrita Sher-Gil”, directed by Sandor Sara, Hungary, followed by a talk by Katalin Keserű, Art Historian, Screening of film titled “A Family Album”, directed by Navina Sundaram followed by an illustrated talk by her and a musical concert by Hungarian musicians M. Zoltán Lantos & M. Péter Szalai.
This exhibition is accompanied by the release of a comprehensive catalogue produced by the NGMA.
The exhibition will be on view for public from 31st January 2014 – 2nd March 2014, from 10 am – 5 pm (except on Mondays and National holidays).
This exhibition will also be organized later in NGMA Bengaluru.
