PREVIEW : 21 February 2014, 6pm onwards

SH Raza PARIKRAMA: Around Gandhi Preview: 21 February 2014 |  6 pm onwards Vadehra Art Gallery D-40 Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024 Exhibition continues until 26 March 2014 Monday to Saturday | 11 am - 7 pm   On the eve of SH Raza’s 92nd birthday, Vadehra Art Gallery presents Parikrama: Around Gandhi, an exhibition of the Modernist Master’s new works executed after his return to India in 2010. Raza saw Mahatma Gandhi in a public meeting in Mandla, his hometown in Madhya Pradesh, when he was 8 years old. This ‘darshan’ left an indelible mark on him. Whenever he visited Delhi from Paris between 1950 and 2010, Raza visited Rajghat to pay respect to the great soul at his samadhi. He has always been inspired by Gandhian deeds, concepts and words. Since his return to Delhi, Raza has been working on a series inspired by the teachings of Gandhi. He explores them in his own inimitable style without falling into traps of representation or illustration. They are tributes to a great human being by a master of our times. In conjunction with the exhibition and the artist’s birthday, Vadehra Art Gallery in association with The Raza Foundation will release two books Raza: A Journey of the Master and Geysers. The Ambassador of France François Richier has graciously consented to launch these books on 22 February 2014 at the Embassy of France in New Delhi. Raza: A Journey of the Master is a collectors’ delight with about 100 large, high quality prints of the artist’s important works. A limited number of books will have prints with the artist’s signature on it. Geysers is a book of correspondence between Raza and fellow artists and critic friends: Akbar Padamsee, Bal Chhabda, E. Schlesinger, FN Souza, Gaintonde, Laxman Pai, MF Husain, Ram Kumar, RV Leyden, Tyeb Mehta and Walter Langhammar.  About the artist SH Raza was born in Babaria, Madhya Pradesh, in 1922. He studied at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, and Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris. His awards include: Padma Bhushan by the Government of India (2007); Lalit Kala Ratna Puraskar by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (2004); Padma Shri by the Government of India (1981); the Kalidas Sanman National Award by Government of Madhya Pradesh (1981); the Prix de la Critique (1956); the Gold Medal by Bombay Art Society (1948); the Silver Medal Bombay Art Society (1946). His important solo exhibitions include: Antardhwani, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi (2013); Bindu Vistaar, Grosvenor Gallery, London (2012); Punaragaman, Vadehra Art Gallery and Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (2011); Raza – A Retrospective, Saffronart, New York in association with Berkeley Square Gallery (2007); Celebrating 85 Years of Living Legend S H Raza, a Traveling Exhibition at Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, New Delhi, organized by Aryan Art Gallery, New Delhi (2007); Retrospective 1952-91, Palais Carnles, Musee de Menton, France (1991); Solo show, Galleria Matuzia, San Remo, Italy (1975); Solo show, Worth Ryder Art Gallery, Berkeley, University of California, California, USA (1962). His important group exhibitions include: Ram Kumar and the Bombay Progressives: The Form and the Figure Part II, Aicon Gallery, New York (2013); Des duos et des couples, Aixen Provence, France (with Pablo Picasso and Francoise Gillot) (2003); Tryst with Destiny, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai (1997); L’ Estampe Aujourd’hui, Bibliotheque Nationale: Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporian, Grand Palais, Paris (1978). His international participations include: Transition, 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata (2013-14); Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose (2011); From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul (2007-08); International Biennale de Dakar, Senegal (1992); Biennale, Pavilion de Marsan, Paris (1957). The artist lives and works in New Delhi.   For further information, please contact art@vadehraart.com or +91 11 24622545/24615368.