31 October 2024/
THE WRITTEN CANVAS: CELEBRATING KESHAV MALIK’S LEGACY
Art Konsult, New Delhi presents “The Written Canvas: Letters to Keshav Malik from Artists and Thinkers,” an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the birth centenary of the distinguished art critic, poet and Padma Shri Keshav Malik. Hosted at the Annexe Art Gallery, India International Centre, New Delhi, this exhibition will run from 4 November 2024 to 9 November 2024 (11:00 AM to 7:00 PM).
The grand unveiling of the show will take place on Monday, 4 November 2024, at 6:00 PM, inaugurated by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Karan Singh, former Member of the Rajya Sabha, esteemed statesman, philosopher and ambassador.
This curated selection of personal letters from luminaries like Balraj Sahni, Bejan Daruwalla, Biren De, Gayatri Sinha, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Jehangir Sabavala, Jogen Choudhury, K.G. Subramanyan, Krishen Khanna, Lee Waisler, Mahirwan Mamtani, Nissim Ezekiel, Pritish Nandy, Prof. Lokesh Chandra, Rameshwar Broota, Samik Bandyopadhyay, Sankho Chaudhary, Sisir Kumar Ghosh, F.N. Souza, Suniti Kumar Chatterji, Tambimuttu and many others offer an intimate look into the intellectual and creative exchanges that shaped Indian art and culture.
“Personal letters have also been a source of social and cultural history, reflecting the concerns, ideas, beliefs that shaped the events that happened at that particular time and place. They are also a reflection of the values, the depth of understanding and biases of the individuals concerned. The exhibits here are a testimony to that.” says Usha Malik.
A GLIMPSE INTO INDIAN ART AND CULTURE
Keshav Malik’s legacy lies in his ability to nurture creativity through his poetic writings and deep personal relationships.
Siddhartha Tagore says, “Keshav Malik’s contributions to Indian art criticism and culture were monumental. With a deep understanding of Indian aesthetics and global artistic movements, Malik’s critiques were known for their insightful analyses, weaving together traditional and modern elements. Over a career spanning several decades, he wrote extensively on Indian art and culture, contributing to numerous journals, catalogs and exhibitions. His work not only explored the formal aspects of art but also delved into its philosophical and social dimensions, establishing him as a thoughtful and authoritative voice in the Indian art scene”.
THE ENDURING POWER OF WRITTEN WORDS
The Written Canvas invites visitors to experience a rare connection in today’s digital world. This collection of handwritten and typed letters resurrects the lost art of letter-writing, capturing cultural memories and revealing the philosophies, beliefs, and challenges that shaped the artistic world in Malik’s lifetime. Many letters hold sentiments that go beyond words, where the space between words conveys more than the lines themselves. The chosen letters illuminate the profound connections Malik forged with artists and intellectuals, showcasing the collaborative nature of art and thought in handwritten form.
Gaurav Kumar notes, “The chosen letters and cards showcased here bear witness to the subtleties of human connection, while others have quietly faded, molded by the passage of time. Yet, brevity did not always signify distance; often, fewer words carried the warmth of deep affection, where silence between the lines spoke volumes. The letters in this collection are a testament to the enduring power of written words to forge and sustain relationships across time and space”.