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Manjit Bawa
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"There has to be a certain freshness and newness in one's art, otherwise it's pointless to pursue it. To be different means doing something you have never done before."
Born in a small Punjabi town of Dhuri in 1941, Manjit Bawa wasn't exactly encouraged to be an artist. "My mother would try to dissuade me, saying art was not a means of livelihood. But my spiritual leanings dispelled my fears. I had no qualms. I believed God would...
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"There has to be a certain freshness and newness in one's art, otherwise it's pointless to pursue it. To be different means doing something you have never done before."
Born in a small Punjabi town of Dhuri in 1941, Manjit Bawa wasn't exactly encouraged to be an artist. "My mother would try to dissuade me, saying art was not a means of livelihood. But my spiritual leanings dispelled my fears. I had no qualms. I believed God would provide me with food and I would earn the rest," he says.
It was Bawa's older brothers who backed him up. He studied fine arts at the School of Art, New Delhi between 1958 and 1963, where his professors included Somnath Hore, Rakesh Mehra, Dhanaraj Bhagat and B.C. Sanyal. "But I gained an identity under Abani Sen. Sen would ask me to do 50 sketches every day, only to reject most of them. As a result I inculcated the habit of working continuously. He taught me to revere the figurative at a time when the entire scene was leaning in favor of the abstract. Without that initial training I could never have been able to distort forms and create the stylization you see in my work today," recalls Bawa.
Between 1964 and 1971, Bawa worked as a silkscreen printer in Britain, where he also studied art. "On my return I faced a crisis. I asked myself, 'What shall I paint?' I couldn't be just another derivative of European style of painting." Instead, he found Indian mythology and Sufi (school of Islam) poetry. "I had been brought up on stories from the Mahabharat, the Ramayan, and the Puranas (Hindu mythological and sociological texts), on the poetry of Waris Shah (a Punjabi poet) and readings from the Granth Sahib (holy book of the Sikhs)," he says.
Manjit Bawa's canvases are distinguishable in their colors - the ochre of sunflowers, the green of the paddy fields, the red of the sun, the blue of the mountain sky. He was one of the first painters to break out of the dominant grays and browns and opted for more traditionally Indian colors like pinks, reds and violet. "We have been bought up on a staple of ochres, grays and browns in art, thanks to the British. That's why when I began using bright colors the reaction was negative," points out Manjit, "but I persisted. I have been criticized for my 'ice cream' colors for years, but they come out of the same Winsor and Newton tubes that other painters use. Bright colors are closer to the heart of most Indians, familiar as they are with these shades. "
Nature also plays inspiration here. When young, he would travel widely either on foot, by bicycle or simply, by hitchhiking. "I have been almost everywhere - Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat. I would spread a sheet of paper on the ground and draw the countryside. The colors and the simplicity of people I met fascinated me." Birds and animals make a constant appearance in his paintings, either alone or in human company. Besides nature, the flute is a recurring motif in his works. Bawa learnt to play the flute from maestro Pannalal Ghosh. He has painted Ranjha, the cowherd from the tragic love ballad Heer Ranjha, playing the flute. He has painted Krishna with a flute, surrounded by dogs and not by cows as mythological paintings depict him. Besides these, figures of Kali and Shiva dominate Bawa's canvases; "they are the icons of my country," he feels.
If Bawa is known for his vibrant paintings, he is also known for his love of spirituality, and particularly of Sufi philosophy. "I find a wealth of wisdom in the scriptures. Sufi philosophy has taught me that man and man, man and animals, can co-exist," he says.
The painter has been surrounded by controversies in his life as an artist, the most recent one being accused of forgery by his assistant. Bawa dismisses this one with a mythological story: "There is a tale about a saint being stung by a scorpion he had saved from drowning. Neither diverted from his original character. Neither can take on the other's role."
For Bawa, drawing is his first love. "I enjoy doing it, for it isn't decorative and loud. One can use minimum essentials to extract the maximum effect," says the artist. "I was inspired to return to drawing after seeing Michelangelo's sketches and drawings at an exhibition in Amsterdam, where I had gone for one of my shows. The idea stuck in my mind. I don't work on demand, but follow my heart and mind, for I feel everything has a time and a place."
Manjit Bawa lived and worked out of Dalhouise, Himachal Pradesh, where his studio is, and Delhi, where his family lives.
Manjit Bawa passed away in December 2008.
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Born
July 30, 1941
Dhuri, Punjab
Died
December 29, 2008
New Delhi
Education
1958-63 Studied at the School of Art, Delhi Polytechnic, New Delhi
Exhibitions
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2013-14 'Transition', 20th...
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2013-14 'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata 2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi2013 'The Sahmat Collective: Art and Activism in India since 1989', Smart Museum of Art at University of Chicago, Chicago 2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
2012 'Contemporary: A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art', prsented by Sakshi Gallery at The Park, Chennai2012 'Crossings: Time Unfolded, Part 2', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi 2011 'The Path of the Lotus: Indian Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London 2011 'Lets Paint the Sky Red', India Habitat Centre and Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi2011 'Anecdotes', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai 2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose 2010 'Art Celebrates 2010', represented by Gallerie Ganesha at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games 2010 'Dali's Elephant', Aicon Gallery, London2009 'Indian Art After Independence: Selected Works from the Collections of Virginia & Ravi Akhoury and Shelley & Donald Rubin', Emile Lowe Gallery, Hempstead 2009 'Kalpana: Figurative Art in India', presented by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at Aicon Gallery, London; The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) 2009 'Tracing Time', Bodhi Art, Mumbai 2009 'In Memorium', National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2005 Air Gallery, London organized by Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai and Gallery Maya, London 2005 Nehru Centre, London organized by Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai and Gallery Maya, London 2005 ‘Mapping the Conscience 1980-2004’, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi 2005 ‘Mapping the Conscience 1980-2004’, organized by Sakshi Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 2002 Organized by Sakshi Art Gallery, Sama’a and Indian Contemporary, Hong Kong 2001 Sakshi Art Gallery and Sama’a in Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai 2001 ‘Heads’, organized by Sakshi Art Gallery and Sama’a in Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai 2000 Bose Pacia Modern, New York 2000 Exhibition of Miniatures, London 2000 ‘Early Works’, Fine Art Gallery, Mumbai 1999 ‘Bhav, Bhaav, Bhavya’, Frames of Eternity with Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai, Academy of Fine Art, Kolkata, Gallery Espace, New Delhi, Lalit Kala Galleries, New Delhi 1998 Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan 1997 Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai 1996 Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1994 ‘Drawings’ 94’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1994 ‘Miniature Paintings, Silver Boxes and Jewellery’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1994 Birla Academy, Kolkata 1994 ‘Carpets and Tapestries’, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai 1992 Exhibition of Drawings and Paintings, CCA, New Delhi 1991 Exhibition of Drawings, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai 1990 Exhibition of Drawings, CCA, New Delhi 1990 Birla Academy, Kolkata 1984 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai 1982 Art Museum, Washington DC, USA 1979 Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi 1972-74 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi 1970 Private Gallery, San Sebastin, Spain
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 ‘Freedom 2008 – Sixty Years after Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 2005 ‘Ritu’, an exhibition of miniatures organized by Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi 2004 ‘Realm of Fantasy’, organized by Indian Contemporary Art 2004 ‘The Margi and the Desi’, organized by Gallery Espace, New Delhi 2003 ‘Transition’, organized by Gallerie 88, London 2000 Exhibited with Hof and Huyser, Kunst + Rai, Amsterdam 1998 ‘Murano Glass Sculptures’, Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai 1998 ‘Expat India Women’s Club Group Show’, organized by Impresario, Singapore 1998 ‘Four Contemporary Artists’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1997 Organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA) at National Museum, Singapore 1996 ‘Highlights’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 1996 ‘Images on Paper’, Art Today, New Delhi 1996 ‘Chamatkar’, Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art, Organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), London 1996 Collection from National Gallery of Modern Art, China 1996 Paintings from Bharat Bhavan, Moscow 1995 Curated Contemporary Indian Art Show for National Gallery of Modern Art Group Show, Egypt 1995 Le Shosde, Paris 1994 ‘Drawings' 94’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi 1994 ‘Miniatures’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 1994 ‘River of Art’, Art Today, New Delhi 1994 Exhibition of Indian Paintings by National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)in Israel 1994 Exhibition of Indian Paintings by National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Syria 1993 ‘India Songs’, New South Wales Museum, Australia 1993 ‘Wounds’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 1993 ‘Trends and Images’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 1992 ‘Images: The Poet and the Painter’, CCA, New Delhi 1992 ‘The Subjective Eye’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai 1992 ‘Nine Indian Contemporaries’, CCA, New Delhi 1992 Roopankar Museum, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 1990 ‘State of Art’, Computer Paintings, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 1990 ‘Exhibition of Drawings’, CCA, New Delhi 1989 ‘Timeless Art’, Times of India, Mumbai 1987 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai 1985 ‘Five Painters’, Turkey, Haly, Yugoslavia 1984 Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi 1983 ‘Seven Painters’, Maurya Gallery, New Delhi 1982 Asian Art Exhibition, Fukuoka, Japan 1982 Art Museum, Washington D.C., USA 1982 Inaugural Exhibition, Roopankar , Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 1980 ‘Miniature Format’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1979 ‘Serigraphs’, Alliance Francaise, New Delhi 1979 ‘Indian Art Today’, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi 1979 Inaugural Exhibition, ‘Roopankar’, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 1978 ‘Gallery 26 / Artists Forum', New Delhi 1977 Natraj Gallery, New Delhi 1977 ‘Art India 77’, Lalit Kala Gallery, New Delhi 1977 ‘Pictorial Space’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1977 ‘Gallery 26 / Artists forum', New Delhi 1977 Indian Art Today, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta Art Museum, Washington DC 1977 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 1977 Twenty Artists, Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi 1976 Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi 1972-74 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi 1970 Private Gallery, San Sebastian, Spain 1969 Terrace, London 1963 Shilpi Chakra, New Delhi 1962 Government College of Art, Ludhiana 1962-63 ‘The Six’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi 1961 Indian Seminar of Art, Ambala
Joint Exhibitions
2005 ‘In Transit III’, With Ravinder Reddy, organized by Sakshi Gallery at Alexander Ochs Galleries, Berlin 1994 ‘Colored Pencils’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
Participations
2008-09 ‘Expanding Horizons: Contemporary Indian Art’, Traveling Exhibition presented by Bodhi Art at Ravinder Natya Mandir, P.L.Despande Kala Academy Art Gallery, Mumbai; Sant Dyaneshwar Natya Sankul Art Gallery, Amravati; Platinum Jubilee Hall, Nagpur; Tapadia Natya Mandir Sports Hall, Aurangabad; Hirachand Nemchand Vachanalay’s, Solapur; Acharya Vidyanand Sanskrutik Bhavan, Kolhapur; PGSR Sabhagriha, SNDT, Pune; Sarvajanik Vachanalaya Hall, Nasik 2005 Golden Jubilee Exhibition of Lalit Kala Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 2004 ‘Face-to-Face’, Annual Show, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata 2002 ‘Annual Show’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi 2001-02-03 Annual Show, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi 1995 ‘Hundred Years of Indian Art’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi 1987 Coup de Coeur, Geneva 1986 Bharat Bhawan Biennale, Bhopal 1986 1st Asian-European Art Biennale, Ankara, Turkey 1986 2nd Biennale, Havana, Cuba 1985 ‘Roopankar’, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal 1985 ‘Festival of India’, The Grey Art Gallery, New York 1984 Tokyo Biennale, Japan 1982 Contemporary Indian Paintings, Festival of India, London 1979 National Exhibition, New Delhi 1977 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Festival of India, London 1976 National Exhibition, New Delhi 1963-68 Annual Exhibitions, New Delhi
Honours and Awards
2002 ‘Meeting Manjit’, film on Manjit Bawa directed by Buddadeb Dasgupta, received the National Award for Best Documentary 1986 1st Bharat Bhawan Biennale, Bhopal 1981 All India Exhibition of Prints and Drawings, Chandigarh 1980 National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1963 Sailoz Prize, New Delhi
2002 ‘Meeting Manjit’, film on Manjit Bawa directed by Buddadeb Dasgupta, received the National Award for Best Documentary 1986 1st Bharat Bhawan Biennale, Bhopal 1981 All India Exhibition of Prints and Drawings, Chandigarh 1980 National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 1963 Sailoz Prize, New Delhi
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Untitled
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5 June 2026
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