New Delhi: ‘Neo-Urban Avatar: A Mythopoesis of the Contemporary Times-II’, the 16th solo art exhibition by acclaimed Odia artist Birendra Pani, was unveiled at the India International Centre (IIC) Art Gallery in Delhi on Tuesday.
The exhibition, organised by the IIC in collaboration with Purushottam Public Trust, will continue till July 14.
The exhibition was inaugurated by art historian Prof. Parul Dave Mukherji (Dean, SAA, JNU), art historian and curator Dr Rajashree Biswal, artist and Padma Bhushan awardee Jatin Das, art consultant Sushma Bahl, Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, former Secretary (MEA) and poet Amarendra Khatua, historian Nibedita Mohanty, and former IPS Sanjeeb Patjoshi.
The inaugural programme was facilitated by Radhika Dhumal, trustee of Purushottam Public Trust.
The exhibition presents 80 art works of Pani selected from his 35 years of artistic engagement. It includes paintings from the Neo-Urban Avatar series, the Sanguine story series, the 365 days series of drawings, Day Dreaming in Vadodara series of prints, and other works.
“My constant relocation to different places propelled me to experiment with the iconographic elements of the Patta Chitra and palm leaf drawings, the monumental architectural and sculptural tradition, folk and performing dance tradition, and popular art of my native state of Odisha and thus, to reinvent my ‘self’ in a globalising world,” Pani said.
“Neo-Urban Avatar is imaginary conceptual expression – the essence of positive spirit and hope within us to survive in this difficult hypermodern time, the artist shared.
Pani’s distinguished journey in the domain of visual arts has seen him exhibiting in solo art exhibitions in New York, San Diego, Malaysia and in different parts of India, and in more than 350 group art exhibitions in various parts of the globe.
He received Junior and Senior Fellowship from the Indian government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, National level Award (Print Making) from South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, several awards from Odisha State Lalit Kala Academy and other awards. He is the co-founder of non-profit cultural initiative New Bridge India along with Dr Rajashree Biswal as its founder.