Monday, July 30, 2012

‘Approaching Abstraction’

For some leading artists at the core of India's progressive artistic and intellectual discourses in this period, figuration was a link to social, political, and community concerns, while abstraction was perceived as more personal and individual. At the same time, abstraction was also linked to international trends in modern art. 

The grand exhibition continues the thematic exploration of art from post-independence and post-Partition India begun with ‘The Body Unbound’. It builds on and expands the framework suggested by the first part of the series:  to explore the relationship between figuration and abstraction in Indian modernist art.

It will help define and discern the characteristics that distinguish abstraction in modernist Indian art from abstraction in Euro-American modernism, and show the individual, independent trajectory of abstraction in India after Independence. In addition to extraordinary paintings, the exhibition is going to present experimental films created by leading painters M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta and Akbar Padamsee in the late 1960s, showing them for the first time in a museum context and in relation to the artists' paintings.

The thematic show, curated by Beth Citron, has been supported, in part, by the Dedalus Foundation, Inc. An audio tour for the exhibition will help define and discern the characteristics that distinguish abstraction in modernist Indian art from abstraction in Euro-American modernism, and show the individual, independent trajectory of abstraction in India after Independence.

Visitors can explore an interactive timeline discussing the Modernist Art movement and the historical events that helped shaped the art in India through photographs and videos.

The Rubin Museum of Art works with a mission of establishing, presenting, preserving, and documenting a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity, and historical significance of Himalayan art and to create exhibitions and programs designed to explore connections with other world cultures. The Rubin Museum is committed to addressing a diverse audience—from connoisseurs and scholars to the general public.

‘Approaching Abstraction’ continues through October 16 at the Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street, Chelsea.

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