“Narration comes to me naturally, I have been fond of telling stories since my childhood.”
Born in July 1929, in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, the self-taught artist Badri Narayan has been painting for over 45 years. During this time, he has worked as an art teacher and an artist, but has always remained a deeply introspective individual. This self-reflection and autobiographical perspective is the most constant theme in...
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“Narration comes to me naturally, I have been fond of telling stories since my childhood.”
Born in July 1929, in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, the self-taught artist Badri Narayan has been painting for over 45 years. During this time, he has worked as an art teacher and an artist, but has always remained a deeply introspective individual. This self-reflection and autobiographical perspective is the most constant theme in Narayan's work.
The artist’s paintings are narrative, and titles like ‘Queen Khemsa's Dream of Hamsa’ and ‘Meeting at Midstream’, are the starting points from where one must unravel the complexities presented by the paintings, in order to interpret and understand them. Symbolism is a recurring feature of his works, though sometimes, he also uses popular icons of Indian culture like Ganesha. He explains, "I have picked up the imagery that surrounds me, the one I am born into, and it comes naturally." Narayan draws heavily from Indian mythology and metaphors and acknowledges the influence of the Indian miniature tradition in his works. The artist believes in the two-dimensionality of painting, and prefers to work in a smaller format; one that he finds practical and well suited for the watercolours that have been his preferred medium for several years. Narayan has also worked with etchings, woodcuts and ceramics and illustrated some children’s books.
Narayan’s first solo exhibition of paintings was held at the Hyderabad Art Society in 1954. Since then, he has held well over fifty solo shows including several exhibitions at Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai. He has also exhibited his work at Mon Art Gallerie, Kolkata; Sakshi Art Gallery, Bangalore; and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.
Badri Narayan’s work has also been featured in several group shows, the most recent ones being 'The Root of Everything' at Gallery Mementos, Bangalore, in 2009; ‘Different Strokes’ presented by Tulika Arts at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2007-08; ‘Journey 2’ at Gallery Art and Soul, Mumbai, in 2007; and ‘Spectra’ at Gallerie Zen, Bangalore, in 2007. He has also participated in the Bharat Bhavan Biennale, Bhopal, in 1992; the 7th Indian Triennale, New Delhi, in 1991’ the 1st and 2nd International Triennales, New Delhi, in 1968 and 1971 respectively; the 5th International Biennale of Prints, Tokyo, in 1966-67; and the 2nd International Biennale, Paris, in 1961.
Badri Narayan passed away on 23rd September, 2013.
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Born
July 22, 1929
Secunderabad Andhra Pradesh
Died
2013
Education
Self Taught
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012 The Viewing Room,...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012 The Viewing Room, Mumbai
2007-08 Mon Art Gallerie, Kolkata
2006 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2004 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002 Gallerie 88, Kolkata
1999 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
1993 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
1991 Sakshi Gallery, Bangalore
1985-86 University of North Dakota, USA
1964 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1963 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012 'Aqua', Gallery Beyond, Mumbai
2010 'Black is Beautiful', India Fine Art, Mumbai
2009 'Sacred and Secular', India Fine Art, Mumbai
2009 'The Root of Everything', Gallery Mementos, Bangalore
2007-08 ‘Different Strokes’, presented by Tulika Arts at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Journey 2’, A Charity Art Show for Passages, Gallery Art and Soul, Mumbai
2007 ‘Art for Concern’, The Annual Charity Auction 2007, Mumbai
2007 ‘Spectra’, Gallerie Zen, Bangalore
2002 ‘Legacy of Art’, Commemorating 50 Years of Jehangir Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 ’50 Years of Art in Mumbai’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
1998 Jehangir Nicholsan Collection, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, New Delhi
1997 ‘Image Beyond Image’, Traveling Exhibition form Glenbarra Museum, Japan
1997 ‘Japan Collection’, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai
1996 ‘Perspecta’, organized by Gallery 88 at Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi
1996 ‘Contemporary Indian Painters’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1990 Work of the Indo- German Artists’ Camp on War and Peace, Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata
1988 ‘Art for CRY’, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bangalore
1985 ‘Collector’s Choice’, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
1982 ‘Indian Art Today’, Darmstadt
1980 ‘Four Indian Artists’, Surya Galleries, Freinsheim
1979-80 ‘Indian Art of the Present Day’, Landau
1972-73 ‘Indian Graphic Art’, Warsaw and Paris
1972 ’25 Years of Indian Art’, New Delhi
1971-72 ‘Indian Art Exhibition’, Tokyo, Kyoto, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, San Salvador
1966 75 Years of Painting in Western India, Mumbai
1966 The First Bombay Arts Festival, Mumbai
1966 ‘Art Now in India’, Newcastle, Ghent
1965-66 Traveling Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art, East Africa, Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam
1965 ‘Graphic Arts from Five Continents’, Leipzig
1964 ‘International Graphic Arts’, National Museum, Prague
1963 Vitrum Studio Exhibition, Galerie Vanier, Geneva
1963 Air India Art Exhibition, Perth
1962 Indian Artists Exhibition, Moscow
1960 Exhibition of Indian Art, Villa Huegel, Essen
1957 First Asian Artists’ Exhibition, Tokyo
1955 Indian Art Exhibition, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
1949 All India Art Exhibition, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad
Participations
2012 'Small is Beautiful', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 'Moderns', Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Embassy of India, Amman, Jordan
1992 Bharat Bhavan Biennale, Bhopal
1991 7th Indian Triennale, New Delhi
1989 Centenary Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai
1987 ‘Indian Art Exhibition’, Festival of India, Moscow
1976 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, 25th Pugwash Conference, Chennai
1971 2nd International Triennale, New Delhi
1968 Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Art Society of India, Mumbai
1968 1st International Triennale, New Delhi
1966-67 5th International Biennale of Prints, Tokyo
1961 2nd International Biennale, Paris
Honours and Awards
1990-91 Gaurav Puraskar, Maharashtra State Government
1987 Padma...
1990-91 Gaurav Puraskar, Maharashtra State Government
1987 Padma Shri, Government of India
1984-86 Senior Fellowship for Outstanding Artists, Government of India, New Delhi
1968-69 ‘The Critics’ Award’, Artists’ Centre, Mumbai
1965 National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1962,65,66,67,69,70 Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academy, Hyderabad
1962,63,66 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1957,58,59,70 Bombay Art Society, Mumbai
1949,54,60,62 Gold Medal, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad
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