S H Raza's lifetime works on show at NGMA

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) An exhibition of the lifetime works of veteran artist S H Raza is being held at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) here to celebrate his 85th birthday.

The exhibition, titled 'Swasti' showcases Mr Raza's broad spectrum of work from his landscapes in water colours to his evolved modern art.

'Swasti' features 45 paintings collected from NGMA repository, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and private collections. Some of the works have been specially created for this exhibition by Mr Raza, NGMA Director Rajeev Lochan said.

Speaking to UNI on the eve of the inauguration of the exhibition, Prof Lochan said, "artists of Mr Raza's stature don't need recognition. Rather, they need celebration and NGMA decided to celebrate his 85th birthday by mounting an exhibition of some of his masterpieces." "It took us five months to research, conceive, conceptualise, document, compile and finally put on display his exquisite work," he added. "Indian art is finding acceptance all over the world and if we will not recognise and celebrate it in our own land then who will." Mr Raza is one of the most prominent contemporary Indian artists working around the themes of ''Bindu', Beej', Prakriti', 'Panchtatva' and 'Kundalini', making these age-old Indian concepts come alive in his works.

Living in France since 1950, he was conferred Padma Bhushan this year for his invaluable contribution to contemporary Indian art.

The exhibition will remain on view till March 18.

UNI