#longread Archives

#Throwback2022: Sudhir Patwardhan: Painter of the Particular

#longread, Artist Profile, Uncategorized / July 26, 2025

On a cursory glance, Sudhir Patwardhan’s cityscapes might look akin to Edward Hopper’s paintings. But while Hopper’s scenes often show figures in solitude against the backdrop of the geometrically laid-out Western city, Sudhir’s canvases are often brimming with toiling bodies struggling in a bustling Indian city in construction. The Social backdrop of Sudhir’s Patwardhan’s visual […]

#Throwback2022: Sudhir Patwardhan: Painter of the Particular Read More »

Tyeb Mehta was an artist beyond boundaries: Writes Sidharth

#longread / July 25, 2025

Sidharth On the centenary of Tyeb Mehta’s birth, contemporary artist Sidharth reflects on a profound encounter with the master painter that revealed the deeper spiritual and philosophical dimensions underlying Mehta’s iconic diagonal compositions. In this deeply personal tribute, Sidharth—himself a multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges traditional Indian wisdom with contemporary expression—shares an intimate conversation that

Tyeb Mehta was an artist beyond boundaries: Writes Sidharth Read More »

Remembering S.H. Raza’s Love for Bindu on His Death Anniversary

#longread / July 23, 2025

“The Bindu or cosmic egg is a symbol of primordial genesis from which, in Hindu mythology, all Creation is born” – S.H. Raza Syed Haider Raza was born on 22nd February 1922, in Kakkaiya (locale Mandla), present-day Madhya Pradesh, to a deputy forest officer Syed Mohammed Raza and Tahira begum. He began drawing at the

Remembering S.H. Raza’s Love for Bindu on His Death Anniversary Read More »

Be inclusive, be original, and always keep learning: Ina Puri shares her pearls of wisdom

#longread, Interview, Samvaad / July 14, 2025

Even a single Samvaad with noted writer, art curator, documentarian and collector Ina Puri is a study in fascinating anecdotes from the modern history and world of Indian art. It is a glimpse into the trajectories of the Who’s Who of the art world, whether it be stunning legends or more recent, exciting contemporary discoveries.

Be inclusive, be original, and always keep learning: Ina Puri shares her pearls of wisdom Read More »

Street Art and Graffiti In Indian Public Spaces

#longread, Columns, Featured, Special Story / July 10, 2025

Kritika Verma I will begin by introducing the topic of graffiti and street art (henceforth graf/street art). Secondly, I will explain the emergence of Street art/ Graffiti in public spaces in India, explaining the importance of and justification for studying graffiti/street artists and their impacts on urban and rural landscapes. I will define the working

Street Art and Graffiti In Indian Public Spaces Read More »

Scaling up the canvas for public art – Krishen Khanna Part 3

#longread / July 5, 2025

Khanna’s deep commitment to the pictorial space was not to be confined by the limits of the easel. He got an opportunity to break free of this confinement. Sometime in the early 80s, the chairman of ITC showed him the blank, dome like space of about 4000 square feet on the ceiling of ITC Maurya,

Scaling up the canvas for public art – Krishen Khanna Part 3 Read More »

Unveiling the Intricate Artistry of Iranian Miniature: Tracing Its Enduring Influence on Deccani Paintings.

#longread, Columns / June 28, 2025

Early Background and Introduction: Iranian miniature art, dating back to pre-Islamic times, is a small-scale painting on paper used as book illustrations or individual artworks in albums called ‘Muraqqa’. It has been popular in the West due to its longevity and better-preserved condition. Persian art originated in Iran, spread to China, developed, and returned to

Unveiling the Intricate Artistry of Iranian Miniature: Tracing Its Enduring Influence on Deccani Paintings. Read More »

A visual record of history – Krishen Khanna Part 2

#longread, #Throwback2022, Artist Profile / June 26, 2025

Khanna’s works deal with a realistic world, the goings on; the play of maya caught in its own momentum, its own web; blurred under its own momentary existence against the eternal march of time. The moments caught on canvas seem to have a rhythm about them, as though, they are flowing over to the next

A visual record of history – Krishen Khanna Part 2 Read More »

As an artist, I am not subservient to anybody – Krishen Khanna Part 1

#longread, Artist Profile / June 24, 2025

The centrality of visual art is governed by geometrical considerations. But it is the discovery made in the process that underlines its longevity. Krishen Khanna, a self-taught artist, has been engaged in making these discoveries through his entire span of life. His art has come to be celebrated globally for the fresh insights in

As an artist, I am not subservient to anybody – Krishen Khanna Part 1 Read More »

Gandhi Through the Artist’s Eye: 7 Iconic Paintings and Iconography

#longread / June 21, 2025

7 Famous Paintings on Gandhi Artists have captured Mahatma Gandhi, the symbol of non-violence and an embodiment of India’s independence struggle in their creations. He is the subject of artists from different ages and genres who have embodied his image in visual forms that depict the essence of his person and being in addition to

Gandhi Through the Artist’s Eye: 7 Iconic Paintings and Iconography Read More »

#longread