National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, in collaboration with Gallerie Splash, presents “Ratan Parimoo: Pioneer Abstractionist, An Exhibition of Paintings 1958–1973.” This landmark retrospective showcases more than 150 works by Ratan Parimoo, one of India’s most distinguished modernists—renowned painter, art historian, and educator. The exhibition is open to the public from September 12 to October 12, 2025, at Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall, NGMA Mumbai.
The exhibition, curated with guidance from prominent art writer and curator Girish Shahane provides an unprecedented opportunity to view Parimoo’s rarely seen abstract canvases, early line-based works, and thematic paintings exploring Kashmiri identity. Spanning the years 1958 to 1973, the selection spotlights Parimoo’s bold experiments with abstraction, a field he entered at a time when most Indian artists remained committed to figuration.
Visitors can experience Parimoo’s journey from early linear drawings influenced by Jain and Egyptian miniatures to architectonic and symphonic explorations that redefined modern Indian painting. The exhibition restores attention to Parimoo’s distinct abstractionist phase.
Exhibition Details
Ratan Parimoo: Pioneer Abstractionist—Paintings 1958–1973
Curatorial Advisor : Girish Shahane
Dates: 12 September–12 October 2025
Venue: National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall, Fort, Mumbai
Collaborator: Gallerie Splash
Ratan Parimoo’s Artistic Legacy
Born in Srinagar in 1936, Ratan Parimoo is celebrated as both a painter and an influential art historian. He studied Fine Arts at MS University of Baroda and earned his art history doctorate under the Commonwealth Scholarship at London’s Courtauld Institute. Parimoo’s artistic practice drew on Indian and global influences, engaging deeply with Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, and Surrealism while remaining rooted in Indian visual vocabularies.
His experiments with abstraction marked him as a trailblazer—co-founding the Baroda Group under Prof. N.S. Bendre and shaping Baroda’s rise as a hub of artistic experimentation in the post-independence era. Parimoo’s work is noted for gestural freedom, tonal richness, and its synthesis of Indian and modernist sensibilities.
Scholarship and Recognition
Alongside his artistic career, Parimoo wrote foundational books on Indian art—including Studies in Modern Indian Art (1975) and Life of Buddha in Indian Sculpture (1982)—and held key roles as Dean of Fine Arts at Baroda and Director of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad. His writing and curatorial work continue to shape art discourse in India and abroad. In 2025, Parimoo was awarded the Padma Shri for his lifetime contributions.
Curatorial Perspective
The exhibition’s curatorial direction, led by Girish Shahane, illuminates Parimoo’s radical move away from academic realism and decorative impulses. It highlights the significance of Baroda’s art scene in the mid-20th century and presents Parimoo as a pioneer who expanded the boundaries of Indian abstraction, decades before such work received critical recognition.
About the Collaborators
Gallerie Splash, founded by Jinoy Payyappilly in 2010, is known for its commitment to showcasing research-driven art practices and underrepresented voices in Indian art. The gallery continues to foster contemporary narratives and supports community-focused art initiatives through annual fellowships and educational projects.
Cover Image: Ratan Parimoo | Configuration A | Ink on paper | 22 x 34 cm
All images courtesy of Artist.
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