Abirpothi

Iftikar Ahmed

Iftikar Ahmed is a New Delhi-based art writer & researcher.

Who are Some Pre-Colonial Dalit Painters?

Art history in India remains a rich confluence of traditions and cultures, yet it is marked by systematic exclusions that have erased the contributions of marginalized communities—in particular, Dalits. The history of Indian art has been largely written around temples, miniature paintings, and court art but rarely mentions the artisans from Dalit communities who contributed […]

Who are Some Pre-Colonial Dalit Painters? Read More »

Award-Winning Impressionist Suvvro P Basu Brings Nature to Life

A nemophilist and an impressionist artist, Suvvro P Basu seamlessly weaves the patience and dynamism of nature in an intricate matrix. Suvvro constructs steps of his artistic path buoyancy across his reverence for nature sweeps up the magnificence of trees and undergrowth while sky might lift him into the dazzling belts of building. Working mostly

Award-Winning Impressionist Suvvro P Basu Brings Nature to Life Read More »

What Makes Nishtha Jain’s Art Capture Daily Life So Powerfully?

Nishtha Jain’s art practice is grounded in the quotidian yet intimate spaces of life. This resonation comes, in part, from the way her paintings expose simple human presence and relationship in scenes so recognisable. be it a mother performing the balancing act of a lifetime, a group of individuals gathering in common spaces or coming

What Makes Nishtha Jain’s Art Capture Daily Life So Powerfully? Read More »

The History of Fan Art?

Two superheroes in vibrant red and black costumes sitting on a wooden boat in a serene turquoise lagoon, surrounded by lush palm trees and overwater bungalows in the background, exuding a fun and adventurous vibe.

Fan art is a curious thing, a sign of fans’ limitless creativity and unending desire to pay tribute to their beloved characters, stories or public figures, sometimes with amazing talent and other times with a “well, they tried” energy. But where does the charming cocktail of admiration and artistic fervour come from? Spoiler alert: fan

The History of Fan Art? Read More »

Manish Solanki Revives Nostalgia Through His Artistic Tribute to Traditional Games

A painting of a boy sitting on a textured ground, holding a wooden stick, with a background of abstract yellow and gray patterns and minimalist geometric shapes.

It is a deep desire to create art that does not just punctuate gallery walls, but that evokes a visceral emotional and cultural response that is the axis upon which Manish Solanki’s artistic journey intersecting these two distinct realms pivots. Based out of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Solanki derives inspiration from childhood games, a common thread that

Manish Solanki Revives Nostalgia Through His Artistic Tribute to Traditional Games Read More »

Why Is Western Art Defined by “Isms” While Indian Art Is Rooted in Regions and Traditions?

A composite image featuring vibrant traditional Indian artwork depicting Krishna playing the flute alongside mythological figures, juxtaposed with a classical European painting of Jesus surrounded by disciples, showcasing diverse artistic styles and cultural storytelling.

Introduction Art mirrors society, with its cultural, historical and philosophical underpinning. One of the organising principles of Western art history has been the categorisation of the development of the arts into movements or “isms” such as Impressionism, Cubism and Surrealism, which represent identifiable styles, philosophies, and historical phases. Indian art, by contrast, is usually named

Why Is Western Art Defined by “Isms” While Indian Art Is Rooted in Regions and Traditions? Read More »

How Does Aryan Nandakishor Patil’s Art Explore the Connection Between Dwarf Figures in Indian Temples and Social Inequality?

A sculpture by Aryan Nandakishor Patil featuring a red, dripping figure seated on a traditional base, juxtaposed with a black-and-white portrait of the artist standing amidst a bamboo structure.

Aryan Nandakishor Patil is an artist whose practice dug deep into the rough soil of our social issues rooted in labor rights and social inequality somewhere out of Indian traditional temple architecture. His inspiration also comes from the dwarf figures often represented in Indian temples that are depicted as holding beams, platforms, etc. Although these

How Does Aryan Nandakishor Patil’s Art Explore the Connection Between Dwarf Figures in Indian Temples and Social Inequality? Read More »