Embodied Narratives: The Human Figure Across Generations
By Nvyā Editorial | Published on Dec 2, 2025 | in Art Curators, Art gallery
Gallerie Nvya is set to make a profound statement at the Art Mumbai Fair 2025 with a focused and evocative exhibition that explores the human figure and the vernacular narrative across the rich landscape of Indian art. Titled to reflect the diversity and depth of its collection, the presentation stages a powerful dialogue across three generations—pitting the foundational insights of canonical Masters against the established vision of mid-career artists and the dynamic voice of emerging talent. What binds these diverse practices is a shared, unwavering commitment to capturing the complexity and resilience of the human spirit.
The exhibition’s core strength lied in its foundation of seminal works from the post-Independence modernists. At the heart of this legacy stands Krishen Khanna, whose works from the iconic Bandwala Series offer a poignant starting point. These evocative pieces transcend mere representation, capturing the subtle pathos, quiet dignity, and undeniable humanity of the common man, a theme that remains central to the Indian artistic consciousness.
G. Ravinder Reddy, Relief- III, 37 x 37 x 7 Inches, Painted and gilded on Polyester resin fiberglass, 2024
Carrying this powerful thread forward are other titans of figurative art. G. Ravinder Reddy’s unmistakable, vibrant, and often monumental sculptures redefine vernacular portraiture with their bold presence, while Thota Vaikuntam’s sharply focused depictions of rural life in Telangana capture an earthy truth and color, celebrating the daily rhythms of the countryside.
The baton is passed to established mid-career visionaries who enrich this narrative with distinct individual voices. The exhibition features the lyrical dreamscapes of Jayasri Burman in Ananda, where the work weaves mythological and personal symbolism into one plane. In stark contrast, Manu Parekh’s pulsating expressionism offers a raw, visceral approach to the Shikaharas and their surrounding environment, with the small shrines bathing in pure moonlight. The presentation is further anchored by the nomadic, stylized bronze figures of K.S. Radhakrishnan, whose work explores movement and strives to search for identities through semi-abstract forms.
Seema Kohli, SK-0262, Kshirsagarvasani, 48 x 32 x 28 inches, Bronze, 2025
Bridging the past and present, artists like Seema Kohli continue the exploration of feminine divinity and energy through paintings- “I Tell you suns exist” and her sculpture- “Kshirsagarvasani”, the form of the Divine, serene in a timeless yogic asana, rising fully realized from the luminous, churning vortex of the cosmic milky ocean, celebrating strength and spiritual grace. Meanwhile, Vinita Karim captures emotional presence not through stark portraiture, but through layered composition in Acrylic, embroidery, gold, and copper artworks showcasing atmospheric cityscapes like in “The Breath of Light” that hint at the solitary figures moving within urban flux, floating on the pious waters of the Ganges.
Lal Bahadur Singh, LBS-0242, Organic Homes, 36 x 54 inches, Oil on canvas, 2025
The exhibition completes its circle with a dynamic group of emerging artists, showcasing how the foundational themes of human experience are being adapted for contemporary concerns. Lal Bahadur Singh portrays his strong details of animal anatomy while taking one on a nature safari, and Bhuwal Prasad’s eccentric revisit to ancient structures. Whereas the new generation artists, Neelesh, creates a juxtapose of east-west traditional architecture, and Rohit Suresh Varekar, who applies bold realism, proving that the form remains a vital medium for drama & commentary.
Vinita Karim, VNKM-0100, Burgundy Skies, 18 x 18 inches, Acrylic, embroidery, gold and copper on linen, 2025
Gallerie Nvya’s presentation is more than an ordinary collection; it is a cohesive demonstration of an unbroken lineage. It highlights how the enduring, universal themes embraced by the Masters continue to inform, challenge, and inspire the next generation of artistic expression in India. This exhibition promises to be a powerful and essential stop for anyone wishing to understand the pulse of figurative art in the subcontinent today.
