The works, which are simultaneously inspired by science and a spiritual “zen-like reflection”, succeed in giving meaning to minimalism.
“Forget everything… Let the surface, the medium speak… Don’t control, surrender.”
~Rahul Inamdar
Minimalism, which was initially meant to be a purposeful, artistic choice in all the various art forms, has now become an overused term. It is a “trend” which strips away a lot of colour and texture which used to surround us. There are many images of once life-infused buildings, with a multitude of colours and designs. Now practical and generic objects of mostly greys and blacks replace them, all under the guise of “minimalism.” It seems as though people use the term to denote purposeful artistic intention when the actual purpose is a practical need. This so-called “minimalism” has, to an extent, also permeated in the world of art and design. In such a situation, Rahul Inamdar’s solo exhibition at Threshold Gallery, The Weight of Light is a breath of fresh air.
It is “a philosophical and poetic inquiry into presence and perception.” The artist follows the core principles of minimalism, whilst also infusing his work with the purposeful artistic intention of conveying the message of stillness, zen and meditativeness.
“Rahul’s practice challenges traditional notions of form and control. Working with oil and casein on silk, the Mumbai-based artist creates works that feel more like moments of presence than conventional paintings. With a uniquely reductive process—guided by silence, surrender, and material intuition—Inamdar offers a visceral encounter with light, space, and self.”
Rahul Inamdar’s work ranges across disciplines, including architecture, music, physics and poetry. His blend of the scientific and artistic has led to this current exhibition. Every piece is created on a unique medium of oil and casein on silk, “each one a quiet act of surrender.” “Entirely self-taught, his approach straddles science and zen, combining reductionist philosophy with meditative introspection. His practice deepened during the pandemic, when the realization of life’s impermanence led him closer to the sublime.”
“Driven by a visceral need for space and oneness, Inamdar invites viewers to engage with absence rather than spectacle. His method is intentionally minimalistic: “Forget everything… Let the surface, the medium speak… Don’t control, surrender.” This spirit permeates his paintings, which offer refuge from design, composition, and excess. With every delicate stroke, Inamdar carves a moment of stillness—a pause to listen, to feel, to simply be.”
Here, the artist is not the focal point but merely a translator of the natural and spiritual. The works intend to probe the viewer to reflect. Consequently, they are not brimming with excess, but contain ample space to allow for reflection. “With a uniquely reductive process—guided by silence, surrender, and material intuition—Inamdar offers a visceral encounter with light, space, and self.”
“I see my role as a perceiver. Perception—the act of sensing and feeling—is half my work. This facet only emerged over time, shaped by constant churning and creation. The other half is execution, where perception must manifest in form. When I began painting 12 years ago, I loved the texture of canvas, but it soon distracted from my intent. Silk offered clarity—its stillness lets emotion come through. I try not to paint, but arrange. I want the work to be free of me, to evoke wind, scent, sound—something felt but not held. Through this process, I aim to perceive ‘The Weight of Light.”
~Rahul Inamdar
Exhibition Details:
- July 21st – August 30th, 2025
- Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm (Sunday by Appointment)
- Threshold Art Gallery, C-221, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi
Citizen of The World. A musician, artist and writer. Social media manager at Abir Pothi
