Lama Tyagi’s First Solo Show
Lalit Kala Akademi opened its door to Lama Tyagi’s first solo exhibition titled Dash | Dot. Curated by Anoop Kamath, it opened on 15 January at Gallery 3. The show will continue till 21st January. Tyagi’s show features 40 paintings on canvas and paper, exploring themes of solitude and the human connection to nature.
The show was inaugurated by the eminent artist Manish Pushkale. The show was also visited by prominent artists Yogendra Tripathi, Siddarth, Mithu Sen and Samit Das among others. The narratives in Dot | Dash reflect his role as both creator and mediator, a bridge between realms of thought and form.
Anoop Kamath on Dash | Dot
In his curatorial note, Kamath writes, “Lama positions himself as a cicerone, an idiosyncratic guide to a magical universe he aptly names Dot | Dash. His artistry, much like the fables of Aesop, forms a modern mythology—a reservoir of visual parables that invite contemplation and introspection. To engage with Lama’s art is to embark on a journey into the recesses of the mind and the boundlessness of the imagination. Each work, a fable in its own right, resonates with universal truths while remaining deeply personal to its creator.”
Anoop Kamath notes, “Lama Tyagi constructs a visual lexicon through monochromatic hues. At first glance, his works may seem like whimsical or arbitrary doodles etched upon canvas or paper. Yet, upon deeper engagement, these seemingly casual lines or shapes transcend the ordinary, breaching the viewer’s imagination and shepherding them into an enigmatic, mythological realm.”
Lama Tyagi on His Art Style
Lama Tyagi’s art is deeply influenced by his surroundings—nature, the hues of his environment, serpentine lines, and his solitude. For example, in ‘In The Meeting (2019),’ his characters are in an indistinguishable symbiosis. He states, “During my art practice, I have become acquainted with several characters that have come to me. This work represents these lovely entities meeting one another for the first time—through me.”
Courtesy – Abir Space
Akhilesh on Lama Tyagi’s First Solo
Art critic Akhilesh wrote the foreword of Lama Tyagi’s show. He notes, “The works on display span the last eight years, revealing the continuity of a painter deeply confident in his art. He enjoys his time with colours and forms. Lama has no reason to create a work other than his passion for art. What’s remarkable is that, despite lacking formal training, Lama seems to embody what Picasso famously said—that it takes years to unlearn the lessons of art school. Lama paints from a place where the very first painter once stood. His work is driven solely by an inner urge to create.”
About Lama Tyagi
Lama Tyagi, 27, is a self-taught visual artist based out of New Delhi. After finishing high school in 2015, he spent a year travelling and volunteering in various fields: from waitering in a cafe in Ooty to making eco-friendly menstrual pads as an intern with the NGO Goonj. He became a Khoji at Swaraj University in Udaipur, Rajasthan, an alternative learning space where he began painting.
Tyagi was mentored by Akhilesh. During his time in his studio, he encountered acrylic paints for the first time. He was also mentored by natural dyes artist and founder of Abir Foundation, Ruby Jagrut. Lama has exhibited his works in exhibitions across India. He currently lives and works in Delhi NCR.
Image Courtesy – Abir Pothi
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