Indiyart by Rooftop presents The Sacred Aesthetics, a new art exhibition in New Delhi spotlighting Phad and Pichwai painting traditions by master artists Prakash Joshi and Mukut Joshi.
About the Exhibition
The Sacred Aesthetics, a showcase by Indiyart (Rooftop), brings together two of Rajasthan’s most revered art forms—Phad and Pichwai—under one roof. The exhibition runs from 20 to 23 March 2026 at The Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi. Featuring 28 works in total, it invites viewers into the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of India’s living artistic heritage.
While Phad paintings by Prakash Joshi unfold sweeping mythological narratives, Mukut Joshi’s Pichwai artworks evoke devotional grace through detailed iconography. The exhibition celebrates their shared roots while highlighting each form’s unique purpose—collective storytelling and intimate divine communion.
Artist Practice
Prakash Joshi, from the famed Joshi lineage of Phad painters, brings 15 large-format scrolls to the exhibition. His works, rooted in performance and ritual, embody centuries of storytelling traditions from Rajasthan. Nationally recognised with the President’s Award in 2009, Joshi’s paintings are held in major museum collections across the country.
Mukut Joshi’s 13 Pichwai paintings reveal the devotional splendour of Nathdwara’s temple traditions. A State Award recipient, Mukut reinterprets the sacred iconography of Lord Krishna with contemporary finesse, expanding the visual vocabulary of the Pichwai form.
Curatorial Vision of The Sacred Aesthetics
“The Sacred Aesthetics is an invitation to experience these artworks as living practices that continue to inspire, adapt, and connect us to our cultural memory,” says Kartik Gaggar, CEO of Rooftop. The initiative extends the platform’s mission to make Indian art more accessible and meaningful to wider audiences by bridging tradition and today’s context.
Following the success of Indiyart’s 2024 show Viral Gaatha, which explored tribal art through digital technology, The Sacred Aesthetics offers a more intimate encounter with hand-crafted devotion and artistic lineage.
Key Themes
By presenting Phad and Pichwai side by side, The Sacred Aesthetics opens a dialogue between narrative and devotion, community and individuality, past and present. The exhibition situates these Rajasthani traditions not merely as ritual artefacts but as evolving expressions of India’s visual spirituality.
Exhibition Details
Title: The Sacred Aesthetics
Artists: Prakash Joshi and Mukut Joshi
Venue: The Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi
Dates: 20–23 March 2026
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
Presented by: Indiyart by Rooftop
This article has been created from the press kit shared with Abir Pothi. For press releases and related queries, write to editor@abirpothi.com.
Cover Image: Phad – Hanuman Chalisa | Prakash Joshi
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
