A group exhibition titled ‘The Contemporary Lore: Sojourn of Styles’ and Generations Unfurled will be on view at Bikaner House, New Delhi, from May 9 to May 14. Presented by Shailja Art Gallery, the show brings together 23 artists across generations to explore how artistic lineages and practices evolve beyond linear definitions.
Curated by Kiran K Mohan, with a critical essay by art historian Johny ML, the exhibition positions itself as a living dialogue rather than a conventional survey. Featuring works across painting, sculpture, and mixed media, it includes artists such as Anil Gaekwad, Ashok Bhowmick, Asit Patnaik, Bharti Prajapati, Bipin Kumar, Charudatt, Dilip Sharma, Haren Thakur, Harshwardhan Devtale, Hemraj, Jaikrishna Agarwal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Milan Das, Meenakshi Jha Banerjee, Mukesh Bijole, Nilisha Phad, Pandurang Thate, Prem Singh, Rakhi Kumar, Sanjay K. Srivastava, Sekhar Kar, Shaji Apukuttan, and Yusuf.
Rather than organising artists by career stage or chronology, the exhibition foregrounds resonances across material, form, and intent. The works place senior practitioners alongside emerging voices, creating intersections between decades-long artistic inquiries and newer experimental approaches.
According to the organisers, the show challenges conventional classifications within the Indian art world, which are often shaped by market categories and institutional hierarchies. Instead, it proposes a framework rooted in shared artistic concerns and conceptual exploration.
Curator Kiran K Mohan notes that the exhibition is as much about initiating conversations as it is about showcasing individual practices, with each artist seeking an appropriate visual language through their chosen medium. Shailja Jain, Founder and Director of Shailja Art Gallery, adds that the presentation aims to create space for emerging artists alongside established names, highlighting the evolving dynamics of contemporary practice.
When: May 9 to May 14; 11 AM to 7 PM
Where: Bikaner House, New Delhi
Subsequent venue: Shailja Art Gallery, Gurugram; May 17 to June 13
