Take a Moment in Modernity with Artist Haren Thakur at IHC

Curated by Alka Pande, Gallery Time and Space with Art Magnum present renowned Artist Haren Thakur’s painting sensibilities in New Delhi.

Art Magnum and Gallery Time and Space present A Moment in Modernity, a solo exhibition by renowned artist Haren Thakur. Curated by Dr. Alka Pande, the show will run from April 16 to April 25, 2025, at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, offering a journey full of insights into Thakur’s artistic world.

“Today’s artist lives in an era of dissolution without guidance. He stands alone. The old forms are in ruins, the benumbed world is shaken up, the old human spirit is invalidated and in flux towards a new form. We float in space and cannot perceive the new order.” – Walter Gropius in 1919

Haren Thakur’s Unique lens on Modernism

Haren Thakur is an artist rooted in the aesthetic traditions of Santiniketan and deeply influenced by the rural and tribal life of eastern India. Titled “Haren Thakur: A Moment in Modernity,” the exhibition situates Thakur’s oeuvre within the wider framework of Indian modernism, which developed variously across Bombay, Madras, Baroda, and Santiniketan.

The Bengal School of Art, shaped by figures like Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, and Nandalal Bose, was India’s first modern art movement—a nationalist and revivalist response to colonial aesthetics. Institutions like Kala Bhavana at Santiniketan became incubators of an Eastern modernity rooted in spirituality, symbolism, and indigenous practice.

Haren Thakur, an alumnus of Kala Bhavana, was mentored by modernist masters such as Ramkinkar Baij, Benode Behari Mukherjee, and Somnath Hore.  Drawing from their philosophies, Thakur’s practice centers on nature, labor, and vernacular knowledge. His decision to set up a studio in Jharkhand in 1974 cemented his lifelong engagement with tribal communities and landscapes—particularly those of the Munda and Birhor peoples.

Haren Thakur: Painting the Familiar 

Working primarily with acrylic and watercolour on Nepalese rice paper (Lokta) since 1947, Thakur’s medium reflects his aesthetic and ecological ethos. His artworks are often animated with motion and musicality, inspired by tribal speech and movement. His style integrates the flat surfaces of Warli art, the abstraction of Cubism, and the structured elegance of Egyptian art, especially from the Thutmosis IV era.

A standout piece, Cat and the Fish, is more than a visual anecdote—it reflects his immersion in Bengali cultural motifs from his time in Santiniketan. His works also draw on universal themes: The Musical Meet depicts intimate myth-like couples, The Open Parlour mourns the loss of intergenerational care, and The Reckless Recluse explores rural indulgence and introspection.

Tribal, Modernity, and Symbolism in Haren Thakur’s Paintings

Through geometric reinterpretations of tribal symbols and ancient narratives, Thakur has created a visual language that bridges tradition and modernity. His figures are embedded in their environments, symbolizing unity with nature. His art is both a preservation and an evolution of indigenous aesthetics.

This exhibition is not just an artistic presentation—it is a philosophical offering. It challenges the viewer to rethink “modernity,” not as a break from tradition, but as a continuity of it—rooted in the local, informed by the global, and always searching for authenticity.

Curator’s Note on Haren Thakur

The discourse on modern Indian art has long been shaped by the colonial encounter, the nationalist movement, and indigenous aesthetics. The Bengal School, led by Abanindranath Tagore, emerged as a powerful artistic response to colonial academic realism, embracing Indian traditions, mythology, and Japanese wash techniques. Santiniketan, envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore, further broadened this scope by fostering a global yet deeply rooted artistic identity, integrating folk traditions and international influences.

The curator of the Visual Arts Gallery, at India Habitat Center, Dr. Alka Pande says about the artist Haren Thakur,

He attributes qualities such as love, empathy, and camaraderie to trees, seeing them as silent witnesses to human existence. This perspective aligns with his broader artistic goal: to capture the spontaneity and rhythm of life, rejecting polished artificial refinement in favour of organic movement and energy. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving authenticity, ensuring that art remains a medium for genuine expression rather than mere aesthetic sophistication.

The exhibition invites art connoisseurs, scholars, and collectors to experience an intricate tapestry of cultural memory, artistic evolution, and personal expression through the works of Haren Thakur