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Ganesh Pyne
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Ganesh Pyne is obsessed with death. He can't forget his first brush with death, in the summer of 1946, when communal riots had rocked Kolkata. His family was forced out of their crumbling mansion. As he roamed around the city, he stumbled upon a pile of dead bodies. On the top was the body of a stark naked old woman, with wounds on her breast. No wonder then his paintings rarely has light backgrounds, and blue and black happens to be his...
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Ganesh Pyne is obsessed with death. He can't forget his first brush with death, in the summer of 1946, when communal riots had rocked Kolkata. His family was forced out of their crumbling mansion. As he roamed around the city, he stumbled upon a pile of dead bodies. On the top was the body of a stark naked old woman, with wounds on her breast. No wonder then his paintings rarely has light backgrounds, and blue and black happens to be his favorite colors. Death also finds its way back into his canvas through different motifs. Working mostly in tempera, his paintings are rich in imagery and symbolism.
Pyne was born in Kolkata and grew up in a decaying mansion. He also grew up on stories told by his grandmother --- fold stories, mythological stories, and fairy tales. He spent several evenings in smoky Kolkata cafes discussing communism and Picasso with his friends. "My childhood memories revolve around Kolkata. The sounds and smells of this city fill my being. I love Kolkata."
He doesn't remember the first time he started to paint, but does remember the anger that he drew from his family over his decision to become an artist. Pyne, nevertheless, took admission in the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata. "My first painting was 'Winter's Morning' which showed me and my brother going to school," he recalls. In 1963, he joined the Society for Contemporary Artists. During that period he made small drawings in pen and ink. "I did not have enough money then to buy color," Pyne says. This was also the period of experimentation. The anger and despair of the 70s fuelled one of the most fruitful periods' in his life as an artist that culminated in works like 'Before the Chariot' and 'The Assassin'.
However, sometime in the 80s, he shut himself from the world, driven away by the jealousy and pettiness that the art bazaar arose among his friends.
Initially, Pyne painted watercolors and sketches of misty mornings and wayside temples, variously influenced as he was by Walt Disney and the art of Abanindranath Tagore. He counts Hals Rembrandt and Paul Klee as the other influences.
His signature style shaped from his own experiences of solitude, alienation, pain, horror and moods of tenderness and serenity comes to surface in each of his works. At times, these images are offshoots of an idea that may have flitted through his mind. At others, they resonate lines from poems that may have made an impression on his mind.
The lines are bold, precise, controlled and the drawings that emerge are potent both in form and content. Stripped of color, they convey the architectonic quality in the structuring of the images.
Equally devoted to cinema as he is to painting, Pyne has also drawn inspirations from movies made by Fellini and Ingmar Bergman. Today, he is known as the foremost exponents of the Bengal School of art.
Pyne passed away in 2013.
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Born
June 11, 1937
Kolkata
Died
March 12, 2013
Education
1959 Government College of Arts and Craft, Kolkata
Exhibitions
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2014 'Germinal', presented by...
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2014 'Germinal', presented by Sanchit Art, New Delhi at India Art Fair, New Delhi
2013-14 'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2013 'A Tribute to Ganesh Pyne', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010 'His Mahabharta', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2006 'An Enchanted Space: The Private World of Ganesh Pyne', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2005 'Ganesh Pyne: A Pilgrim in the Dominion of Shadows', a retrospective presented by Galerie 88, Mumbai at The Museum Gallery, Mumbai
2000 Exhibition of Drawings on Mahabharata 1967 to 1987at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
1998 ‘Ganesh Pyne : A Retrospective 1952-1998’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1994 ‘Sketches’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1992 ‘Jottings’, The Gallery, Kochi
1991 ‘Jottings’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1990 Exhibition of Illustrations for book on Wajid Ali Shah, Galerie 88, Kolkata
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012 'Diva', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2012 'Extending the Line', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Adbhutam: Rasa in Indian Art', Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
2010 'Yeh Image Mahan: India meets Bharat', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2010 'Paper Trails', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 'Image and Symbol: Painters Perception', Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2010 'Symbols and Metaphors', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2009 'Modern Continuous', Galerie 88, Kolkata
2009 'Master Class', The Arts Trust, Mumbai
2009 'Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art', Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2009 'Progressive to Altermodern: 62 Years of Indian Modern Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London
2009 'The Root of Everything', Gallery Mementos, Bangalore
2008 'Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 'Tales, Reflection and Constructs', ITC Windsor, Bangalore
2008 ‘Freedom 2008 : Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2007 'Indigenous Modernity Various Trends', An Exhibition of Paintings by Senior Artists of West Bengal, Dedicated to the Memory of Bikash Bhattacharya at Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2007 ‘Tales, Reflection & Constructs’, organized by Galerie 88, Kolkata at ITC Windsor, Bangalore
2006-07 ‘Inventing / Inverting Traditions’, Grosvenor Vadehra, London
2005 ‘Special Works’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2005 ‘Drishti’, Bodhi Art, Singapore
2004 ‘Portraits of A Decade’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2004 ‘Face-to-Face – 19th Century to Contemporary Portraiture’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2003 ‘Portraits of A Decade’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2003 ‘Art of Bengal – A Vision Defined’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2003 ‘Art of Bengal – A Vision Defined’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2002 ‘Brahma to Bapu – Icons and Symbols in Indian Art’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2002 ‘Brahma to Bapu – Icons and Symbols in Indian Art’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2001 ‘Art of Bengal Past and Present’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2001 ‘Art of Bengal Past and Present’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
2001 ‘Works on Paper’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2000 ‘Shatabadi’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2000 ‘Shatabadi’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1998 ‘Multimedia’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1997 ‘Image-Beyond Image’, Contemporary Indian Painting from the collection of the Glenbarra Art Museum, Japan, exhibited at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi ; Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata; Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore; National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai
1997 ‘Color of Independence’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in associastion with National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
1997 ‘Tryst with Destiny – Art from Modern India’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata and Singapore Art Museum, Singapore in association with National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1996 ‘Chamatkara – Myth and Magic in Indian Art’, Whitley’s Art Gallery, London
1996 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Sotheby’s, London
1996 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Sotheby’s, New York
1995 ‘Fantasy’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1995 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Sotheby’s, New York
1995 ‘The Tree of my Life’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1995 ‘Indian Contemporary Paintings’, Christie’s, London
1993 ‘Trends and Images’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1993 ‘Wounds’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
1993 ‘Reflections and Images’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
1993 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1990 Galerie 88, Kolkata
1989 Galerie 88, Kolkata
1989 ‘Self Portraits’, New Delhi
1989 ‘Timeless Art’, The Times of India Sesquicentennial, Mumbai
1988 Galerie 88, Kolkata
1986 ‘Visions’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1986 ‘Indische Kunst Heute’, Darmstadt, Germany
1982 ‘Indische Kunst Heute’, Darmstadt, Germany
1982 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, Festival of India, Royal Academy of Arts, London
1982 ‘Modern Indian Paintings’, organized by National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) at Hirschorn Museum, Washington D.C.
1980 ‘Indian Painting Today’, Mumbai
1975 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Germany
1972 ’25 Years of Indian Art’, New Delhi
1970 Exhibition in aid of Menuhin School of Music, Royal Academy of Arts, London
1970 ‘Group Show’, Germany
1969 ‘Indian Painters ‘69’, Kolkata
1968 ‘World Youth Festival’, Prague
1961 Birth Centenary of Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata
1957 Commemorative Exhibition 1957, First Indian Struggle for Independence, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
Participations
2012 'Crossings: Time Unfolded, Part 2', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose
2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
2010 'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
1980 ‘Contemporary Art of India’, Japan
1980 ‘Modern Asian Art’, Glenbarra Art Museum, Japan
1978 ‘Modern Asian Art’, Glenbarra Art Museum, Japan
1975 ‘International Festival of Paintings’, France
1975 ‘International Festival of Arts’, Cagnes-Sur-Mer
1971 II International Triennale, New Delhi
1970 Paris Biennale, Paris
1968 International Triennale, New Delhi
2016 Two Faces of Bengal Modernism GANESH PYNE & LALU PRASAD SHAW, New Delhi
Honours and Awards
2011 Raja Ravi Varma Award from the Kerala Government
2009 D.Litt...
2011 Raja Ravi Varma Award from the Kerala Government
2009 D.Litt (Honarary), Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata
2008 Life Time Achievement Award, Star Ananda, Kolkata
2004 Abainindra Purashkar, Government of West Bengal
2003 D.Litt (Honoris Causa), Kalyani University
1997 Gagan Abani Puroskar, Visva Bharati
1985 Shiromani Puroskar, Asian Paints, Kolkata
1978 Artist of the Year, Sangeet Shyamala, Kolkata
1973 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1957 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1956 Calcutta Art Society, Kolkata
1955 Government College of Arts and Craft, Kolkata
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"I am only whole when I am painting," eminent artist Ganesh Pyne once said, borrowing a quote from dancer Nijinsky. He spoke to Mitra Banerjee from his home in Kolkatta:
You works seem to revolve around the theme of death. Why is it that your paintings rarely have a lighted background? Your colours are usually dark and black and blue
I will never forget my first brush with...
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Read More
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"I am only whole when I am painting," eminent artist Ganesh Pyne once said, borrowing a quote from dancer Nijinsky. He spoke to Mitra Banerjee from his home in Kolkatta:
You works seem to revolve around the theme of death. Why is it that your paintings rarely have a lighted background? Your colours are usually dark and black and blue
I will never forget my first brush with death. It was 1946, and communal riots were taking place all over Calcutta. My family had been evacuated from our 19th century mansion. One day, while walking about, I stumbled upon a handcart heaped with dead bodies, being wheeled into a morgue.
On the top of the pile lay the body of an old woman - stark naked, her body had turned ashen. There were fresh wounds on her breast that were oozing blood and there was shining necklace around her neck. I was shaken by the sight. Since then, I have been obsessed with the dark world.
What were the earlier influences on your work?
I grew up in a decaying mansion in a shady north Calcutta lane. I grew up on tales my grandmother, a folk tale raconteur, told me. She opened my third eye and turned out to be my biggest inspiration. She fed my dreams.
You once shunned the world. And then, in the 90s, made an attempt to come out of your shell. What promoted this coming out?
Ans) I married and realized how valuable companionship is. How important emotional dependence is. I have gone through some pretty bad times. I felt very lonely after my mother s death. Now I enjoy my morning walk, my occasional holidays, and my growing interest in outer space and black holes.
How do you recall the time you spent with the Contemporary Artists Society in Calcutta, which you joined in 1963?
My work during that period were small drawings in pen and ink. I did not have enough money then to buy color. This was also the period of experimentation. The anger and despair of the 70s fuelled one of the most fruitful periods in my life as an artist.
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