Mumbai, August 2025 – Art Magnum and Gallery Time and Space are proud to present A Moment in Modernity, a landmark exhibition of works by artists Sharmila Thakur and Haren Thakur, curated by acclaimed art historian Dr. Alka Pande. The exhibition will be on view from August 5 to 11, 2025, at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, and will feature an interactive session with the artists and Dr. Mandakini Devi on the closing day.
Sharmila Thakur’s art emerges from a deeply personal and intuitive space. She does not approach her practice through theory or intellectual frameworks, but instead draws from her inner self, one that has been shaped profoundly by years of close connection with tribal life and
culture. Her work reflects the raw beauty, simplicity, and spiritual strength of tribal communities. Rather than reinterpret or stylise this inspiration, she allows it to exist in her art with honesty and directness.
Sharmila works primarily with paper pulp, Plaster of Paris, and enamel paint, materials that allow for bold, earthy textures and an elemental physicality. Her use of vibrant colours and rustic forms mirrors the rhythm, energy, and cultural vitality of the communities she is drawn to. Each piece echoes their deep connection with the land and the cosmos.
Educated at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, under eminent artists such as Somnath Hore, Suhas Roy, Dinkar Kaushik, Sukhen Ganguli, and Ajit Chakraborty, Sharmila was instilled with a lifelong respect for material, tradition, and the quiet power of authenticity. Her work continues to evoke a sense of rootedness and universal connection, celebrating the eternal human bond with nature.
“I’ve always felt that my art comes from a very personal, inward place. It’s not something I try to intellectualize or explain too much. I create the way I feel, and often that feeling is rooted in the tribal world I’ve been surrounded by for so many years — their simplicity, their closeness to nature, and their quiet strength. There’s a kind of raw beauty in tribal life that doesn’t ask to be interpreted. It just is. And I try to honour that by not complicating it. I don’t build elaborate stories or symbols in my work. I let the forms emerge as they are — bold, grounded, and full of life. I work mostly with paper pulp, plaster of Paris, and enamel paint. These materials feel honest to me — textured, tactile, and imperfect, much like the world I draw inspiration from. I enjoy using strong colours and rough, organic forms that reflect the rhythm of everyday tribal life — the music, the movement, the earth. ”
– Sharmila Thakur
Haren Thakur’s recent body of work comprises large-format mixed media paintings that explore the metaphysical and structural possibilities of rocks, trees, and landscapes. His titles—Cosmic Rock, The Moon and Rocks, Structural Integrity, and Eternal Connectivity—suggest a deep and ongoing engagement with rhythm, harmony, and the architecture of nature.
“Haren and Sharmila Thakur are a formidable duo. Their art works portray a certain moment of modernity by way of representing the spirit of the tribals. Using the modern language of art, both husband and wife create a distinct language in their respective art works. Using diferent scales and different materials, they express a fine balance of aesthetics.” – Dr. Alka Pande
Trained at Kala Bhavan, and having worked in Jharkhand since 1974, Haren has remained closely connected to tribal communities and natural landscapes. His works are marked by layered abstraction and a modernist visual language that synthesises Munda and Birhor rock art, geometry, and earthy textures. His compositions are rooted in the Santiniketan tradition of contextual reinterpretation and Eastern modernism. The exhibition highlights the shared yet distinct sensibilities of both artists—each drawing from the natural and spiritual world to create deeply evocative work, grounded in place, tradition, and introspection.
“From the detailed markings on Sharmila Thakur’s sculpture to the expansive composition of Haren Thakur’s painting, both artists demonstrate a meticulous approach to their respective mediums, transforming materials into evocative visual experiences, making powerful visual declarations through their prominent, unrefined, and native textures.”- Saurabh Singh
Opening: August 5, 2025
Interactive Session: August 11, 2025 (with Sharmila & Haren Thakur and Dr. Mandakini
Devi)
Venue: Jehangir Art Gallery, 161B, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai –
400001
Timings- 11am – 7pm
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