‘Esoteric Expressions’: An art exhibition

Gallerie Ganesha will present a solo exhibition titled Esoteric Expressions, showcasing the works of modernist KS Kulkarni from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. The exhibition opens at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, from August 23 to 31, before moving to Gallerie Ganesha, Greater Kailash-II, from September 5 to October 7.

The show highlights Kulkarni’s ability to navigate between intricate drawings, figurative compositions, and abstractions with equal ease. His art, though rooted in Indian culture and folk traditions, reflects a universal outlook. As the artist once remarked, “Beyond the influence of Indian culture and its ethos, my horizons are universal. I am interested in the universalising of the human spirit.”

Kulkarni was among the key figures who shaped the post-independence art movement in Delhi. He co-founded the Delhi Shilpi Chakra in 1948 and went on to become the founding Art Director of Triveni Kala Sangam, a position he held from 1949 to 1968. Throughout his career, he was admired both as a teacher and as a practitioner, developing a style that fused primitivist energy with refined modernist experimentation.

The works on display trace his engagement with line, colour, and form—often drawn from nature and honed through rigorous craft. They reveal his exploration of the spiritual self while situating his practice within a broader, universal stage.

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Curator and gallerist Shobha Bhatia, who studied under Kulkarni at Triveni, recalls his lasting influence: “His work, though unmistakably modern, carried deep influences from folk and tribal art. His ability to manipulate form, space, and colour in an unparalleled manner resulted in the creation of masterpieces.”

When: August 23–31, 11 AM – 7 PM; September 5–October 7, 11 AM – 7 PM

Where: Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam; Gallerie Ganesha, E-557, GK-II, New Delhi