Keshav Malik’s book that critiques eminent artists to be launched

The Indian art world is abuzz with news of the launch of the book, “A Critic’s View: Art Reviews of 37 Artists (1965 – 2013)” by Keshav Malik, edited by Usha Malik. This book is a collection of art exhibition reviews by the late Keshav Malik, one of the greatest Indian art critics and poets of the last half-century. Malik’s insightful reviews of exhibitions by renowned Indian artists such as Jamini Roy, Nandalal Bose, MF Husain, SH Raza, J Swaminathan, A Ramachandran, Krishen Khanna, and many more are included in this book.

To celebrate the launch of this book, an event will be held at the Seminar Hall, Kamaladevi Complex (1st Floor) Indian International Centre in New Delhi on May 4, 2023, at 6:30 pm. The event will be moderated by Jyoti A Kathpalia, Associate Professor & Curator, and will be attended by speakers, including Prayag Shukla, a poet and art critic, Amal Allana, Lifetime Trustee, The Alkazi Foundation For the Arts, Jyoti Tokas, Curator & I/C Dy. Director (Admin & Finance) at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Arpana Caur, Eminent Artist, Kalicharan Gupta, Eminent Artist, and Saba Hasan, Eminent Artist.

Keshav Malik, an icon of the Indian art world, passed away on June 11, 2014, in New Delhi, leaving a void that has yet to be filled. His sensitivity and wisdom, combined with his passionate dexterity for words, made him a legendary figure. Malik was a regular art critic for Hindustan Times and Times of India. His poems were very enjoyable, and he was also the president of the poetry club of India. Some of his famous poems are “The Lake Surface” (Surge Publications, New Delhi), “Rippled Shadow” (Surge Publications, New Delhi), and “Negatives” (Poetry Time, Berhampur, Orissa). In “A Critic’s View: Art Reviews of 37 Artists (1965 – 2013)” by Keshav Malik, Malik’s critical insights into Indian art will continue to inspire generations to come.

Gallerist and publisher Siddharta Tagore told Patriot that Malik’s legacy is still very much alive in the Indian art world, and the launch of this book is a testament to his enduring influence.

As artist KS Radhakrishnan reminisces, “His art criticism did not come from art history; it came from his deep understanding of aesthetics as a poet. He responded to the works of art according to this aesthetical understanding. He never hurt anybody by making harsh judgments. In fact, there was no need for him to be harsh on any artist. He belonged to a world of dreamers; beauty, harmony, and poetry were the rules of that world.”

When: 6:30 Pm; May 4

Where: Seminar Hall, Kamaladevi Complex (1st Floor) Indian International Centre in New Delhi