Select Exhibitions | Public Art Projects

Travelling Museum Lab | Solo Biennale

arth | art for earth

Taking Art Beyond Art | Connecting Rivers & Waters of the World

Thought Experiments & Dialogues at the Waterfronts.

Transforming & Redefining Spaces. Designing Unique Immersive Experiences. Democratising Art. Conceptualising & Curating Interdisciplinary Practices. Bringing participative inclusivity for all communities. Redefining Material.

Pioneering Innovative Public Art & Installations on Environment Consciousness,
Climate Change & Sustainable Development for Three Decades.

“Mesmerising, contemplative and labor-intensive..."
"In the wide world of contemporary public art, Manav Gupta has emerged as a visionary artist whose work transcends boundaries and captivates the imagination of audiences around the globe. His technical prowess in producing his large-scale environments—creating a sense of mass and space—is inspiring and evokes a sense of wonder. His work shares attributes or sensibilities with the works of other notable, pioneering environmental artists, such as the husband-and-wife duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Gupta’s work is powerful in its ability to remind us of Mother Nature, and the preciousness of the elements that make up our very existence."

"Gupta’s rise in the contemporary public art realm is a testament to his dedication to environment and climate consciousness, community engagement and artistic innovation. His ability to seamlessly blend tradition and innovation and his commitment to creating art with a higher purpose is a model for emerging artists today who strive to make a meaningful impact on society. Gupta’s journey serves as an inspiration for the ever-evolving field of public art, reminding us of the power of art to enrich and transform our lives and the world around us."
Jack Becker, Founder Emeritus, Forecast Public Art & Public Art Review | 2024

“I want to point out the deep spiritual and life-affirming place his work emanates from. He is interested in the sacred, but not from a religious point of view. Rather, he thinks about the flow of water, the meaning of light, and the sacredness of people and how they merge together. Manav comes from the sacred Ganges River to the sacred Mississippi River to explore what river is in our culture”
Jay Coogan, President, Minneapolis College of Art & Design | 2015

The Decade of 2010 - 2019

'To his credit, Manav has six most iconic and revolutionary art projects in India this decade’
Times of India | 2019

"In Gupta’s hands, clay is about transformation, regeneration, renewal and the cyclical nature of life. He knows that clay, with its deep cultural and artistic significance in India and around the world, can be both contemporary and traditional, and create a dialogue between the organic and the artistic."
Jack Becker, Founder Emeritus, Forecast Public Art & Public Art Review | 2024

2026

20 ft Tall & 10 ft Wide Canvases · Aerocity, IGI T3 International Airport Area · Permanent Collection

Rainforests, Non Limiting Horizons & Umbilical Cords of Earth, Air, Water, Fire, & Space

by Manav Gupta

Permanent Collection: Twenty canvases, Twelve twenty feet high and ten feet wide, and Eight large format canvases, now stand across Aerocity — the single largest collection of Manav Gupta's paintings anywhere in the World. Eight of them were painted live over three months, the opening statement of his thirtieth year, from the origin story of the easel, palette and brush.

📍 WORLDMARK, AEROCITY, IGI TERMINAL 3 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AREA, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Umbilical Cords of Earth · Knowledge Treasures of Nature — Umbilical Cords of Light
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft Canvases (Two Paintings)

Non-Limiting Horizons · The Forest's Golden Womb · Timeless Horizons of Dreams
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft Canvases (Triptych)

Rainforests & the Lyrics of Light
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft Canvases (Triptych)

2024 - 2025

Commisioned Project 2027 - International Airport · Hourglass - Time

'Stop a while... We are clay, dust to dust.' Hourglass - Time Machine, World Clock

by Manav Gupta

‘Bringing Home’ – Time Machine- Hourglass, The Beehive Garden.
Travelling Museum Lab Discourse, India – USA

📍 USA

Hourglass - Time Machine

Noah's Ark

2020 - 2021

Concept Note - International Airport · Hourglass - Time

'A river connects them all' | Umbilical Cords of Air, Clay & Fire; Timeless Metaphors of Dreams

by Manav Gupta

‘Bringing Home’ – Time Machine- Hourglass, The Beehive Garden.
Travelling Museum Lab Discourse, India – USA

📍 USA

Umbilical Cords of Air, Clay & Fire; Timeless Metaphors of Dreams
Dimensions: 20ft x 10ft

Umbilical Cords of Air, Clay & Fire; Timeless Metaphors of Dreams
Dimensions: 20ft x 10ft

2019

Public Notice: Public Art Museum on Water | Public Art Project

'Water - the new Gold'

by Manav Gupta

Public Notice | Public Art Museum on Water,
An Architectural Installation with Discarded Cement Blocks & Construction Scrap

10 installations & sculptures

📍 Bhubaneswar, ODISHA, India

Water the New Gold
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft x 3 ft

Architectural Installation - City in a City
Dimensions: 40ft x 60ft x 40ft

The Royal Seat of the River
Dimensions: 7ft x 7ft x 2ft

Public Art Museum of Water
Dimensions: 40ft x 60ft x 60ft

Water Table Insignia - the Tubewell
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft x 3 ft

Newborn Grass Twigs in a Sustainable City - the making
Dimensions: 40ft x 60ft x 60ft

2018

Public Notice | Travelling Museum Laboratory of Art

'arth - art for earth'

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by IGNCA, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India; across 23 Acres of its campus.

6 installations & sculptures

📍 Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, India 110001

river and the matighar
Dimensions: 30 ft x 60 ft x 40 ft

Hourglass - Time Machine - the sound of Aum
Dimensions: 7 ft x 15ft x 6 ft

Noah's Ark
Dimensions: 8 ft x 15ft x 20 ft

the bed of Life
Dimensions: 5 ft x 10 ft x 16 ft

the beehive garden project
Dimensions: 2 ft x 2 ft x 1 ft, 5 ft x 2 ft x 20 ft, Half an Acre

rainforest & the beehive garden
Dimensions: 30 ft x 150 ft x 140 ft

art

taking art
beyond art

thought
experiments & new layers of creations

conceptualised, led, created by Manav Gupta at the installations

SELECT EVENTS:

2017 - 2018

Sculpture Garden - travelling museum prototype by Manav Gupta at Amrita Shergill Marg, New Delhi

Public Notice | Travelling Prototype Museum Laboratory of Art

'Sculpture Garden'

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by a Private Collector at the artist's studio, Amirita Shergill Marg

6 installations & sculptures

📍 Artist's Studio, Private Collector's Residence, Amrita Shergill Marg, New Delhi, India 110003

river - sculpture garden
Dimensions: 20 ft x 20 ft x 40 ft

Hourglass - Time Machine
Dimensions: 7 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft

Noah's Ark
Dimensions: 8 ft x 10 ft x 10 ft

the bed of Life
Dimensions: 4 ft x 7 ft x 10 ft

the beehive garden project
Dimensions: 2 ft x 2 ft x 1 ft, 5 ft x 2 ft x 20 ft, Half an Acre

rain
Dimensions: 30 ft x 50 ft x 10 ft

Creating an Art Lab & Sculpture Garden

Prosaic can be Luxury

Power of thought Experiments

Lighting of Lamps

Connecting Nations through art & environment consciousness

Discourses with Influential stakeholders

2017

Public Notice | Excavated Museum in a Mall - the Yamuna Project

'Excavated Museum in a Mall - the Yamuna Project'

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by DLF, Mall of India

5 installations & sculptures

📍 DLF Mall of India, NCR, India 201301

Yamuna Waterfront
Dimensions: 15 ft x 20 ft x 50 ft

Hourglass - Time Machine
Dimensions: 10 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft

Noah's Ark
Dimensions: 10 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft

Meet me by the riverside - the bed of Love
Dimensions: 10 ft x 6 ft x 10 ft

the beehive garden project
Dimensions: 8 ft x 15 ft x 8 ft

SELECT EVENTS:

Excavated a Museum in a Mall

Poetry as Performance at the Waterfront - Earthen lamp Concert

Date: 15.01.2017

Thought Experiments - Prosaic to Luxury

Dialogues at the Waterfront - Panel Discussions

Event 1

Date: 22.01.2017

Meditation - Earthen Lamp Lighting

Date: 29.01.2017

Education Outreach

Date: 22.10.2018

“Artist Manav Gupta uses the most basic terracotta items in our everyday inventory and mounts an installation at a mall to convey his message of ecological sustainability."

The Pioneer | 2017

2015

Public Notice | River - Ganga Waterfront

'Rain, the Ganga Waterfront along Time Machine'

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by India Habitat Centre

Game Changing Public Art Project

📍 India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India 110003

Ganga Waterfront
Dimensions: 45 ft x 60 ft x 45 ft

Medium: Terracotta Clay, Ceramic, Pottery, Glass, Galvanised Iron Wires, LED and Halogen Lights

Bringing a River into the Heart of a City

Dialogues at the Waterfront

Event 1

Date: 17.02.2015

Earthen lamp Concerts

Transforming Architecture into a Riparian Landscape

Meditation

Event 1

Date: 22.01.2015

Education Outreach

2014

Excavations in Hymns of Clay . Permanent Collection

'Umbilical Cords of Earth, Hourglass - Time Machine, Message in a Bottle'

by Manav Gupta

Permanent Collection, Worldmark, Aerocity

3 installations & sculptures | 20ft x 10ft Paintings

📍 WorldMark, Aerocity, IGI Airport Area, New Delhi, India 110037

Message in a Bottle
Dimensions: 15 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft

Hourglass - Time Machine
Dimensions: 8 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft

Umbilical Cords of Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Space
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft

Umbilical Cords of Earth
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft

2013

Artist's First Museum Exhibition:

'Rainforests and the Circle of Life - Unsung Hymns of Clay'

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by the Ditsong Museum of Natural History, Incredible India & the Indian High Commission of Pretoria

3 installations & sculptures | Paintings | Video Installations | Photographs

📍 The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, 432 Paul Kruger St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

Shrinking River
Dimensions: 18 ft x 25 ft x 10 ft

Zen | Earth
Dimensions: 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft, 1ft x 1ft Glass 1, 2ft x 2ft Glass 2

Rainforests and the Timeless Metaphors of Dreams
Contemporary Miniatures, Imperials and Large Paintings | Oil on Canvas, Acrylic on Canvas, Watercolour on Paper

Triple Channel Video Installations

Dual Channel Films as Installations

Giving birth to a new Identity of ceramics - pottery as large scale environmental installations

Shrinking river on the floor of the Museum

Local to Global, "Gupta has universalised the Diya (Earthen Lamp)"

Transforming clay, the earth element to Water. (Earthen lamp to a water droplet)

First of their kind thought experiments

Education Outreach with local students in South Africa

2010 - 2012

Public Notice | Travelling Prototype Museum Laboratory of Art

'Excavations in Hymns of Clay'

by Manav Gupta

Etymology of Excavations in Hymns of Clay art art for earth, unsung hymns of clay, Ganga, Large Scale Public Art Projects on Climate Change

12 installations & sculptures

📍 Artists Studio, New Delhi, India

2012

river - water, waterbed
Dimensions: 15 ft x 10 ft x 100 ft

Hourglass - Time Machine
Dimensions: 6 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft

Noah's Ark
Dimensions: 8 ft x 10 ft x 10 ft

the bed
Dimensions: 4 ft x 6 ft x 10 ft

beehives
Dimensions: 2 ft x 2 ft x 1 ft, 5 ft x 2 ft x 20 ft, Half an Acre

rain
Dimensions: 20 ft x 10 ft x 10 ft

2011

2010

Permanent Collection, Bharti Airtel · Limca Book of Records · Game Changer

Tree of Life - A World Record

by Manav Gupta

Permanent Collection, Bharti Airtel | Painting LIVE for three months as a continuous marathon project in front of 4000 employees Five-floor High, Tallest, Largest Indoor Staircase Mural, 11,500 Sq. Ft. Total Painted Surface, 5,000 Sq. Ft. Glass Facade. A WORLD RECORD

📍 Bharti Airtel Centre, Delhi NCR, India 122022

'arth - art for earth'

Tree of Life Mural

Dimensions: 100 ft x 50 ft x 10 ft

Medium: Acrylic Paints on Walls

A WORLD RECORD

Five-floor High
Tallest, Largest
Indoor Staircase Mural.
11,500 Sq. Ft. Total Painted Surface.
5,000 Sq. Ft. Glass Facade.
A WORLD RECORD

2010

Travelling Trilogy – New York, Amherst, San Jose, San Francisco, Des Moines, United States, London, United Kingdom, Berlin, Germany

Travelling Trilogy II - On my eyot, rainforests and the umbilical cords | USA, Europe, Asia

by Manav Gupta

‘On my eyot, rainforests and the umbilical cords
Travelling Trilogy II, USA, UK, ASIA

‘Ode to Turner, Tribute to Tagore’, Nehru Centre, London, United Kingdom

‘Rainforests’ Gallery A3, Amherst Massachusetts, USA

‘Plant a sapling on my canvas’ Special Commissioned Project Workshop Bank of India, New York USA

“on my eyot – rainforests and the umbilical cords” Exhibition & Interdisciplinary Performance, Des Moines Social Club, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

‘Art Sustainability & Innovation’ Talk – San Jose State University, San Jose | Exhibition San Jose, California, USA

‘Lyrics of Light’ San Francisco, California, USA

On my eyot – rainforests and the timeless metaphors of dreams Embassy of India, Tiergartenstraße, Berlin, Germany

📍 New York, Amherst, San Jose, San Francisco, Des Moines, United States, London, United Kingdom, Berlin, Germany

The Decade of 2000 - 2009

An artist with a repository of ideas ahead of time.

The decade of 2000 - 2009 saw the artist being firmly recognised as a pioneer of art for environment consciousness, climate change and sustainability in India, with his unique first of their kind thought experiments and innovative projects creating a movement of art for earth.

As also a pioneer of taking art beyond art amidst unconventional spaces with hitherto unexplored ideas.

His distinctive interdisciplinary practice with poetry, music, dance, science, and other streams along with education outreach programmes for students and unique co-creations and collaborations, with multiple disciplines were ahead of their time in India.

The above charting of new territories by the artist went on to be adopted extensively in the Indian contemporary art landscape in the following decades.

"Watercolours that stir your soul"

Cosmopolitan

"Passion that's patently obvious"

Indian Express

"Gupta is one of the few leading young painters today whose dexterity in exploring light and colour, with the most sensitive and delicate stroke-play, has fetched him critical acclaim"

Times of Oman

"Mass Teacher - For artist Manav Gupta, art is about engaging with people"

The Pioneer

All his landscapes, portraits and abstracts even, are dreamy, fluid, almost honeyed. The use of colours is excellent, the paintings all interestingly titled, give definite direction to the spectators’ interpretation.

First City

2009

Curtain Raiser Travelling Trilogy II · Copenhagen Wall of Hope · Climate Change · Sustainability

On my eyot, rainforests and the umbilical cords | Copenhagen Wall of Hope

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition: On my eyot, rainforests and the umbilical cords Curtain Raiser Exhibition for Travelling Trilogy II’ to USA, Europe & UK, 2010

Artist Monographs Published by ICCR

Hosted by ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India, New Delhi, India

Special Commissioned Project: Copenhagen Wall of Hope, on the occasion of Copenhagen Summit
Copenhagen Wall of Hope, CNN IBN, New Delhi, India

📍 ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt of India, Azad Bhawan Rd, New Delhi, 110002

"Let us stop a while...

while doing what we are doing, and begin to change what we can change…

I want to drive home the message that we have to go beyond Copenhagen, beyond drawing room politics and sensitise ourselves, and try and make a change on an individual level. The change needs to be from within us otherwise the generations to come will suffer"

"Beyond Politics, Beyond Copenhagen, For Our Children"

– Treatise by the artist, published on the occasion of the artist's Travelling trilogy, Lectures and Films on Sustainable development (2009 -2010)

International News Broadcast | CNN IBN

Copenhagen Wall of Hope

CNN IBN commissioned the artist on the occasion of Copenhagen summit to create a painting where they serialised the artists depiction of destruction caused by human intervention in nature.

2008

2007

Bonhams · Permanent Collection - Royal Family of Oman · Travelling Trilogy

Travelling Trilogy I - Muscat, Oman | Bonhams, London | Hitachi, Singapore

by Manav Gupta

Travelling Trilogy of Interdisciplinary Practices, Environmental Films Telecast and Public Exhibition - Muscat, Oman

Hosted by Omani Fine Arts Society, Grand Hyatt, Muscat, Oman

Auctions & Public Art Projects:

Bonhams Charity Auction, London, United Kingdom
Hitachi Singapore : Limited Edition Screens featuring Manav Gupta's Paintings.

📍 112 Ruwi Saltanate of Oman, Saltanate of Oman, 4008

📍 Kensington Palace, London, United Kingdom

Travelling Trilogy of Interdisciplinary Practices, Performance Art Concerts, Environmental Films Telecast and Public Exhibition - Muscat, Oman

Hosted by Omani Fine Arts Society, Grand Hyatt, Muscat, Oman

Non Limiting Horizons
Acrylic on Canvas
60 inches x 36 inches
Bonhams Auction: Lot No 75,
Sold,
June, 2007
London, United Kingdom

2006

Christies · Sanatan Kalakriti Award · Ministry of Forests & Environment, Govt of India

Christies Charity Auction | Short environmental films as PSAs

by Manav Gupta

Christies Charity Auction, British High Commission, New Delhi, India One minute environmental films

Film screenings & Public telecast on National TV Doordarshan etc

First Artist to receive the Sanatan Kalakariti Puraskar, Presented by the French Ambassador to India

📍 British High Commission, New Delhi, India 110021

📍 Ministry of Forests & Environment, Govt of India

Artist's film screening - National Television Broadcast

One minute & 30 Second Short films commissioned by Ministry of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India at the Copenhagen Summit and on Indian television.

2005

Residency - First Artist in Residence at the President of India's Official Residence · Rainforests · Lyrics of Light · Rainforests · National Prayer

Shoonya ( Nothingness) – from Beyond | The Life Tree, Collaborative Book of Poems & Paintings Project (2002-2005) | Public Art Project 1: Environmental Films as Public Service Messages | Public Art Project 2: Green Thumb Pledge - Education Outreach - School Students

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition: Shoonya ( Nothingness) – from Beyond Hosted by the Lalit Kala Academy (National Academy of Art, India)

One Minute & 30 Second Films on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Sustainability and Environment Consciousness as Public Service Messages | Public Art Project | Commissioned by Ministry of Forests & Environment, Govt of India

Book Launch: The Life Tree (Poetry by Hon'ble President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Paintings by Manav Gupta)

📍 Lalit Kala Academy (National Academy of Art)35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001

📍 Rashtrapati Bhawan, President's Estate, New Delhi, India 110004

📍 Ministry of Forests & Environment, Govt of India

"Let us stop a while...
while doing what we are doing, and begin to change what we can change…

Manav Gupta

Thought Experiments & Education Outreach - art for earth – at the Exhibition, The Green Thumb Pledge, Published Documenta, 'Stop a While...'

"I Pledge 10000 of my students to you"

Shyama Chona, Principal, DPS R. K Puram

2003 - 2004

Victoria Jones Gallery, London, United Kingdom · Umbilical Cords of Earth

On my eyot - Lyrics of Light | Umbilical Cords of Earth & Shoonya (from beyond)

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition: On my eyot - Lyrics of Light Victoria Jones Gallery, London, United Kingdom

Umbilical Cords of Earth & Shoonya (from beyond) Exhibition of Paintings at Rashtrapati Bhawan, ‘Art as Learning Classroom’ Education Project for students on Climate Change | Rashtrapati Bhavan, Official Residence of the President of India, New Delhi, India

📍 Victoria Jones Gallery, London, United Kingdom

📍 Rashtrapati Bhawan, President's Estate, New Delhi, India 110004

2003

Residency - First Artist in Residence at the President of India's Official Residence · Rainforests · Lyrics of Light · Rainforests · National Prayer

First Artist in Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Invited by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India | Exhibition: Rainforests – On my eyot | World Environment Day | ‘Plant a Sapling on my Canvas’

by Manav Gupta

A Three Year collaboration of creating a book of poems by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and mirroring paintings by Manav Gupta | The Life Tree | Published by Penguin​

First Artist to be invited for Residency – Interdisciplinary Practices of Painting and Poetry | The Life Tree | First Artist in Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Invited by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India

‘Plant a Sapling on my Canvas’ – Public Notice, Exhibition & Public Art Project by artist – inviting people and children from all walks of life to paint with the artist and take a pledge for trees ‘Art as Learning Classroom’ Education Project for students on Climate Change. Hosted by the The Park Hotel, New Delhi

📍 The Park Hotel, New Delhi, India

📍 Rashtrapati Bhawan, President's Estate, New Delhi, India 110004

The Life Tree

A Three Year collaboration of creating a book of poems by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and mirroring paintings by Manav Gupta | The Life Tree | Published by Penguin

First Artist in Residence

First Artist in Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Invited by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of India

Education Outreach

Engagement with School Children on Art & Science & Culture

2002

Rainforests · Sparks · Non Limiting Horzions · Lyrics of Light

Sense Essence, Non Limiting horizons & Lyrics of Light on my eyot | ‘Sparks’ Exhibition & Book Release | Special Commissioned Project: Business Leadership Awards as the artist’s paintings

by Manav Gupta

Hosted by the Leela Palace, Bangalore, Karanataka, India Sense to Essence, Pratirupa Pururpa, Leela Palace, Bangalore, India June 7 - June 28, 2002

Sparks - Book of Poems & Paintings | Business Leadership Awards | 'Jugalbandi' - Pioneering Performance Art in India

Business Leadership Awards to Kumar Mangalam Birla and K. V Kamath | Sparks, a book by Smt Shiela Gujral, former First Lady to former Prime Minister of India, Dr I. K Gujral | Jugalbandi, a performance art concert in India, with Shubha Mudgal

📍 The Leela Palace, Bangalore, Karanataka, India

📍 India International Centre, New Delhi, India

📍 Times of India & Amity Foundation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

2001

Umbilical Cords of Earth · Rainforests · Lyrics of Light

Aqueous Dreams – Circle of Life

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition hosted by the Roosevelt House, U.S. Ambassador’s residence, New Delhi, India. February 26 – February 27, 2000

📍 The Roosevelt House, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, India 110021

2000

Rainforests · Lyrics of Light

Rainforests & Lyrics of Light

by Manav Gupta

Exhbition Hoted by the HRD Ministry, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, New Delhi, India

📍 HRD Ministry, New Delhi, India 110001

1999

Rainforests · Non Limiting Horizons · Lyrics of Light

India Awaiting - Timeless Metaphors of Dreams

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition: Earth Series, Umbilical Cords of Earth, Rainforests Series, Haiku Poems, Exhibition of Paintings & Sculptures | Hosted by the Taj Palace, New Delhi August 15 - 17, 1996

📍 Taj Palace, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India 110021

"He Is Different"

Outlook

"Versatility his Forte – Gupta is gifted with a knack for seeing the unseen... Nature in all its mysteries and manifestation seems to have gripped his mind as reflected in most of his works."

The Statesman

1997

Earth Series · Seeing the Unseen · Calcutta

Earth Series - Freedom to be Different

by Manav Gupta

Exhibition: Earth Series, Founding arth, Nature as a Laboratory, Contemporary miniatures, 'seeing the unseen', 'freedom to be different' | Hosted by the Taj Bengal, Kolkata. August 15 - 17, 1996

📍 Taj Bengal, Kolkata, West Bengal, India 700029

1996

First Solo Exhibition · Permanent Collection · Calcutta

Sylvan Musings | The Tribal Terrain

First Solo - Birla Academy of Art & Culture

Open- Air Public Art Exhibition of Paintings & Sculptures | April 2, 1996

📍 Birla Academy of Fine Arts, Southern Ave, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal, India 700029

As I began my early explorations of 'light' as 'hope' the transparency of the glass against the autobiographical imagery of the man peeping through the darkness inside bore a certain solitude lamenting a certain inner pain. But it also looked at light and hope in the world outside, in which the protagonist was about to step in.

Manav Gupta

The open air exhibition proved to by my tryst with destiny as it planted the seeds of public art and making art available for all – a practice and vision that I have remained committed to.

Manav Gupta

"Different Strokes – Why Manav Gupta is an artist with a difference."

The Telegraph

"Young Artist's First Solo at the Birla Academy of Art And Culture"

The Statesman

Early Life

National Library Campus, Horticulture Gardens

Childhood

Paintings | Trees | In the Lap of Nature | 1967 - 1996

📍 Academy of Fine Arts, National Library Campus, Horticulture Gardens, Presidency College, Kolkata

1. Rainforest

1. Rainforest

"...the black and white drawing of an ensemble-like, burgeoning banyan trunk (Manav Gupta) also compel attention."

Academy of Fine Arts

Painted in the 1970s: 1. Rainforest 2. Citadel - The Solitary Tree 3. Rainforests 4. Academy of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition 5. National Library Campus - Awards in Painting Competitions 6. Award by Lady Ranu Mukherjee 7. Navankur - Anthology of Hindi Poems as Award in National Competition 8. Poem Published in the Catalogue of Writers Guild at London Book Fair 9. Poem Published in the Calcutta Observer.

"My childhood has had a very deep and profound impact on my life and art.

I grew up in the lap of nature and heritage in the National Library Campus of Calcutta.

Trees nurtured me as I sketched their sculptural forms. Rainforests got implanted early in my vision. Poetry came from my parents who were scholars. Music, dance and the performing arts were part of life. The rural landscape of Bengal that I frequented, kept my imagination alive.

Manav Gupta