‘Esoteric Expressions’ showcases works from the 1980s-90s across two Delhi venues
Gallerie Ganesha is presenting a solo exhibition of works by modernist painter and educator K.S. Kulkarni, titled “Esoteric Expressions,” running from August 23 to October 7, 2025, across two venues in New Delhi.
The exhibition opens at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam from August 23-31, before moving to Gallerie Ganesha in Greater Kailash-2 from September 5 to October 7. The closing date coincides with the anniversary of Kulkarni’s death in 1994.
The Artist and His Legacy
Krishna Shamrao Kulkarni (1916-1994) was a founding member of Triveni Kala Sangam and served as its Art Director from 1949 to 1968. Born in Belgaum, Karnataka, he studied at Sir J.J. School of Art in Bombay, completing his postgraduate studies in fine arts in 1942.
In 1943, Kulkarni moved to Delhi, where he co-founded the Delhi Shilpi Chakra in 1949 alongside artists including B.C. Sanyal, Kanwal Krishna, and Dhanraj Bhagat. This collective, active until the 1960s, operated as a parallel movement to Bombay’s Progressive Group under the motto “Art Illuminates Life.”
Kulkarni’s academic career included positions at Delhi College of Art, Banaras Hindu University (where he served as Dean of Fine Arts from 1967-69), and Skidmore College in New York (1969-72). The Government of India appointed him National Emeritus Professor in 1984.
The Works on Display
The exhibition features paintings, drawings, and abstract compositions from Kulkarni’s mature period, spanning the 1980s to mid-1990s. His work from this era demonstrates what critics identify as his distinctive visual vocabulary: geometric spatial arrangements, linear dynamism, and flat color planes that synthesize Eastern and Western influences.
Kulkarni’s artistic approach resisted conventional categorization, incorporating elements from folk and tribal art while maintaining a contemporary sensibility. His compositions from this period reflect what he described as “universalising of the human spirit,” moving beyond regional or spiritual themes toward broader conceptual territories.
Gallery Connection
The exhibition holds particular significance for Gallerie Ganesha, as Kulkarni was both a mentor to founder Shobha Bhatia and the gallery’s first exhibiting artist when it opened 36 years ago. Bhatia first encountered Kulkarni’s work in the early 1960s during art classes at Triveni Kala Sangam.
Exhibition Details
“Esoteric Expressions” runs daily from 11 AM to 7 PM at both venues. The Shridharani Gallery is located at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, while Gallerie Ganesha is at E-557, Greater Kailash-2, New Delhi.
Kulkarni held his first solo exhibition in 1945 and participated in international showcases in Tokyo, Paris, New York, Venice, São Paulo, and London throughout his career. He was commissioned to create a 200-by-50-foot mural for a government exhibition in Moscow.
The current exhibition represents one of the most comprehensive surveys of Kulkarni’s later work, offering insight into the evolution of his artistic practice during his final productive years.
Contributor
