JCCA hosts media walkthrough of rare Somnath Hore exhibition in Jaipur

The Jaipur Centre of Culture and Arts (JCCA) on Monday held a media walkthrough of its ongoing exhibition A Prelude to Wounds – Unseen Somnath Hore, offering journalists and art writers a closer view of rarely seen works by the late modernist artist.

Curated by Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, the exhibition brings together drawings, prints and sculptures that highlight Hore’s attention to human suffering, social struggle and resilience. Many of the works have been sourced from the artist’s daughter, Chandana Hore, who has preserved his collection since his death in 2006.

The walkthrough provided context on Hore’s artistic process as well as the historical moments that shaped his practice, including famine, political turmoil and social unrest. The exhibition also reflects JCCA’s curatorial focus on placing modern masters in conversation with contemporary audiences.

Somnath Hore, born in 1921 in Chittagong, is best known for his Wounds series and his stark paper-pulp works, which became visual metaphors for trauma and survival. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1985, and his works are held in major institutions, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.

The media visit also included a tour of the centre’s four-storey art space, including its café and Culture Hub, which JCCA positions as part of its effort to build a community-oriented cultural environment.

Established in 2023 by Monika and Dr Tarun Sharda, JCCA has previously hosted exhibitions featuring Himmat Shah, Manu Parekh and other modern and contemporary artists. The current exhibition will remain open to the public until December 31.

Curator Bhattacharya described Hore’s work as a visual record of “anguish, compassion and resilience,” rooted in lived realities rather than abstraction.