Two years after artist Manjit Bawa succumbed to his long illness, the Lalit Kala Akademi paid tribute to the modern master of strokes through a book, Manjit Bawa, edited by Ina Puri.
Published under its new Reading Series and priced at `1,000, the book was released by veteran artist Krishen Khanna at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Ashok Vajpeyi, chairman of the Akademi, presided over the function.
Ms Puri, author of a definitive biography and a bio-sketch of Bawa titled In Black & White and In My Own Words, read out from one of Bawa’s last articles “Colours of Global Violence,” written for Tehelka, in which he expressed a hope that sanity will ultimately prevail in a world reeling from globalised terror.
Talking about Bawa, who was known for his vibrant canvas soaked in spirituality, well-known art historian Professor Partha Mitter said: “In his paintings, Bawa created something that was essentially Indian. His suggestions of volumes, lines and shading go back to Indian miniatures.” Prof. Mitter added that Bawa had a unique individualistic style and his art is a reminder of the presence of life and death in our lives.
Aart critic and curator Gayatri Sinha said Bawa frequently flirted with forms and narratives.