Renowned Art Critic Ashok Bhowmick Explores Modernism in Indian Painting at Patna Lecture

Patna: The Concert Hall at the Multipurpose Cultural Complex in Patna hosted a captivating lecture on “Modernism in Indian Painting,” delivered by renowned art critic Ashok Bhowmick from Delhi. The event, part of the “Kala Mangal” series, was jointly organized by the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Bihar, and the Bihar Lalit Kala Academy.

Amrita Pritam, Academy Secretary cum Special Officer, Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Bihar, honored Bhowmick with a bouquet and shawl at the start of the program.

Bhowmick, known for his close association with the political poetry poster movement of the 1970s and 80s and his efforts to establish posters as a distinct art form, shared his insights on the evolution of modernism in Indian painting. He is currently focused on introducing progressive painters such as Chittaprasad, Zainul Abedin, Kamrul Hasan, Somnath Hore, and Sadekan to wider audiences through his presentations in smaller cities and towns.

The lecture drew a diverse audience, including prominent figures from the art world. Padmashri Shyam Sharma, the program coordinator, and co-coordinator Manoj Kumar Bachchan were present, alongside senior artists and art critics. Notable attendees included Milan Das, Shailendra Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Ajay Kumar Pandey, Archana Sinha, Rajkumar Lal, Chandrabhushan Shrivastava, Manoj Kumar Sahni, Alka Das, Sadhna Devi, Sunil Kumar, Rupak Sinha, Ranjit Kumar, Suman Kumar, Arun Singh, Anish Ankur, Rakesh Kumar Jha, Devpujan Kumar, Omkar Nath, Chandan Kumar, and Shilpi Rani.

The event provided a valuable platform for art enthusiasts and practitioners to engage with the ideas and perspectives of a seasoned art critic, fostering a deeper appreciation for modern Indian painting.