Institutions, Associations and Disconnections: South Asian Artworlds after 1947
In the decades after independence, South Asian artists forged new visual languages, balancing modernist experimentation with a reworking of inherited traditions. From the Bombay Progressives to the Madras Art Movement, this lesson explores how artists transformed independence into an aesthetic and political horizon, redefining what it meant to be modern in a newly decolonized world.
This lesson examines artistic production in South Asia in the decades following independence, a period marked by rapid social transformation, the negotiation of national identities, and engagement with global modernist movements. It begins with the ‘43 Group in Sri Lanka and moves on to look at the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG) and figures such as M.F. Husain, whose work sought to reconcile local narratives and imagery with international modernist forms. It also addresses new figurative practices developed by Ram Kumar, Akbar Padamsee, and Tyeb Mehta, exploring expressive approaches that merge abstraction and representation. The lesson also discusses the role of figures like Zainul Abedin and social realism, followed by contemporary calligraphy and modernist painting in Pakistan through the work of Sadequain, Shakir Ali and the Lahore Art Circle, highlighting the intersection of cultural heritage, political identity, and experimental practice. The Madras Art Movement is discussed as another regional center of innovation, fostering engagement with both local traditions and international trends. Finally, the emergence of biennials and experimental galleries in the subcontinent are considered, emphasizing their role in shaping transnational networks and dialogues.
February 4, 2026 - from 6 PM to 8 PM CET.
