Art Konsult is honored to present The Written Canvas: Letters to Keshav Malik from Artists and Thinkers, an extraordinary exhibition celebrating the birth centenary of the distinguished art critic, poet, and Padma Shri awardee, Keshav Malik. This exhibition, unveiled on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Annexe Art Gallery, India International Centre. The exhibition was inaugurated by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Karan Singh, former Member of the Rajya Sabha, esteemed statesman, philosopher, and ambassador. The exhibition brings together a collection of intimate letters that chronicle Malik’s profound influence on the world of art and thought.
This curated selection of personal correspondences from luminaries such as Balraj Sahni, Bejan Daruwalla, Biren De, Gayatri Sinha, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Jehangir Sabavala, Jogen Choudhury, K.G. Subramanyan, Krishen Khanna, Lee Waisler, Mahirwan Mamtani, Nissim Ezekiel, Pritish Nandy, Prof. Lokesh Chandra, Rameshwar Broota, Samik Bandyopadhyay, Sankho Chaudhary, Sisir Kumar Ghosh, F.N. Souza, Suniti Kumar Chatterji, Tambimuttu, and others offer an intimate glimpse into the intellectual and creative exchanges that defined Indian art and culture. “Personal letters have also been a source of social and cultural history, reflecting the concerns, ideas, beliefs that shaped the events that happened at that particular time and place. They are also a reflection of the values, the depth of understanding and biases of the individuals concerned. The exhibits here are a testimony to that.” says Usha Malik
Keshav Malik’s enduring legacy lies in his ability to nurture and inspire creativity, both through his poetic writings and the deep personal relationships he cultivated. “Keshav Malik’s contributions to Indian art criticism and culture were monumental. With a deep understanding of Indian aesthetics and global artistic movements, Malik’s critiques were known for their insightful analyses, weaving together traditional and modern elements. Over a career spanning several decades, he wrote extensively on Indian art and culture, contributing to numerous journals, catalogues, and exhibitions. His work not only explored the formal aspects of art but also delved into its philosophical and social dimensions, establishing him as a thoughtful and authoritative voice in the Indian art scene”. says Siddhartha Tagore
The Written Canvas invites visitors to experience a rare form of connection in today’s digital world. In an era where emails and emojis dominate, this collection of handwritten and typed letters resurrects the lost art of letter-writing. These letters are more than exchanges; they capture a cultural memory, revealing the philosophies, beliefs, and challenges that shaped the artistic world in Malik’s lifetime. Many letters hold sentiments that go beyond words—an affection encapsulated in brief phrases or silence, where the space between words conveys more than the lines themselves.
The chosen letters illuminate the profound connections Malik forged with artists and intellectuals, showcasing the collaborative nature of art and thought in handwritten form. “The chosen letters and cards showcased here bear witness to the subtleties of human connection, while others have quietly faded, molded by the passage of time. Yet, brevity did not always signify distance; often, fewer words carried the warmth of deep affection, where silence between the lines spoke volumes. The letters in this collection are a testament to the enduring power of written words to forge and sustain relationships across time and space”. says Gaurav Kumar
This one-of-a-kind exhibition will be open from November 4 to November 9, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Annexe Art Gallery, India International Centre, New Delhi.
