A new Gallery representing Haku Shah opens in Mumbai with its inaugural exhibition of the Late artist’s works
As of 13 March 2025, Mumbai welcomes a new art gallery dedicated to South Asia’s visual and material culture with the opening of Subcontinent in the city’s historic Fort district. Founded by Dhwani Gudka and Keshav Mahendru, the Subcontinent aims to foster dialogue, discovery, and engagement with South Asian art by exploring its expansive narratives across time and space.
Rediscovering the Estate of Haku Shah
As a defining move, the Subcontinent has opened with the representation of The Estate of Haku Shah, reinforcing its commitment to highlighting artists and legacies that contribute to completing the story of South Asian art. To celebrate this association, the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, titled Ya Ghat Bheetar / Rediscovering Form, presents a selection of works by modernist artist-thinker Haku Shah. Curated by Jesal Thacker, the exhibition kick-started on March 13 and will be on view till April 30, 2025, at the Subcontinent’s permanent space in Fort, Mumbai.
Ya Ghat Bheetar / Rediscovering Form offers a critical re-examination of Haku Shah’s seven-decade-long artistic journey. The exhibition highlights Shah’s exploration of mati (earth), ghat (vessel), and shakti (feminine energy) while showcasing his engagement with craft traditions and ecological symbolism.
Image Courtesy- Subcontinent
36 x 36 in, Oil on Canvas
Image Courtesy- Subcontinent
Shah’s works not only depicted these forms but also documented the practices of potters and craftspeople, blending artistic creation with archiving and collecting. As curator Jesal Thacker notes, “The exhibition demonstrates how Shah’s approach transcended rigid modernist frameworks, illustrating art as a confluence of lived experience and cultural continuity.”
About Haku Shah, from Baroda Group of Artists
Image Courtesy- Subcontinent
Haku Shah (1934 – 2019) was a visionary artist recognized for his formal simplicity and deep-rooted humanism. Born in Valod, Gujarat, Shah drew inspiration from rural life, shaping his artistic and academic pursuits. Trained at M.S. University, Baroda, under the mentorship of KG Subramanyan, NS Bendre, and Sankho Chaudhuri, Shah collaborated with prominent figures such as Charles and Ray Eames, Pupul Jayakar, Charles Correa, and Balkrishna Doshi. His paintings, which were a product of his careful observation and study of different types of folk and tribal art, convey a rooted sense of history to the viewer.
He co-curated the landmark exhibition Unknown India at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1968 and played a vital role in the formative years of the National Institute of Design (NID), advocating for the integration of craft traditions in contemporary design. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 1989 and multiple Rockefeller Grants, Shah’s legacy continues to inspire the art community.
55 x 33 in, Oil on Canvas
Image Courtesy- Subcontinent
Visions of the new Gallery
Subcontinent envisions itself as a space where historical narratives intersect with contemporary practice. The gallery’s mission is to create a platform that celebrates artistic identities, invites critical dialogue, and connects artists, scholars, collectors, and cultural practitioners. Founded by Dhwani Gudka and Keshav Mahendru, the gallery is dedicated to exploring South Asia’s visual and material culture.
Gudka and Mahendru bring extensive experience from the art world, with backgrounds in curation, advisory, and archival practices, ensuring Subcontinent’s commitment to showcasing significant artists and legacies that shape South Asian art history.
Through curated exhibitions and outreach, the Subcontinent remains dedicated to amplifying South Asia’s artistic contributions while supporting archives, artist legacies, and underrepresented histories.
Feature Image Courtesy- Subcontinent
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