“DIGNITY OF LOVE” AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY ARTIST SHIRISH MITBAWKAR
From 16th to 22nd May 2023, at Jehangir Art Gallery, M.G. Road, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
Prominent contemporary artist Shirish Mitbawkar is set to unveil his latest solo art exhibition at Hall No. 1 in the Jehangir Art Gallery, located on M.G. Road in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai 400001. The exhibition will run from the 16th to the 22nd of May 2023, opening its doors to art enthusiasts from 11 am to 7 pm daily. This exhibition promises to offer a unique insight into Mitbawkar’s artistic vision, specifically exploring the concept of love’s dignity and its relevance and sanctity in today’s increasingly materialistic world.
Shirish Mitbawkar’s journey in the world of art began with his education, culminating in a G.D. (Arts) Drawing & Painting degree, followed by an Art Master’s diploma in which he achieved the distinction of standing first in the order of merit in Maharashtra. He later contributed to the field as a Professor of Fine Arts at L.S. Raheja School of Arts in Bandra, Mumbai, eventually becoming the Head of the Fine Arts Department before retiring. Throughout his career, Mitbawkar actively participated in numerous solo and group art exhibitions held at renowned galleries in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, and various workshops and art camps across cities like Kolhapur, Pune, Nasik, and Mumbai. His artistic prowess has been acknowledged with numerous awards and prizes from prestigious national and international art institutions. His work has garnered substantial acclaim from the contemporary art world, finding a place in the collections of several discerning art collectors and esteemed art institutions.
Mitbawkar’s artistic contributions extend beyond his creations; he has shouldered significant responsibilities in advancing the cause of visual fine arts. His latest series of artworks presented at this exhibition delves into his distinctive artistic perspective on the “Dignity of Love” and its pertinence and sacredness in today’s era of modernism and evolving cultural and heritage standards. Central to his thematic works is the figure of Krishna, serving as the primary iconic muse and symbolizing emotional connections and the rhythmic harmony of myriad sentiments. Mitbawkar has skillfully adorned his works with ethnic color palettes and the euphoria of eternal love, all while staying true to his characteristic style of visual expression.
In this collection, Mitbawkar has strategically incorporated a variety of iconic motifs, including horses, bulls, conches, lotus flowers, cows and calves, peacock feathers, flute, and weapons like the Gada and Chakra. These motifs find their place in the artist’s compositions, serving to underscore their significance and sanctity in human existence. His artworks, in essence, are a poetic homage to his conceptual insights and aesthetic standards, capturing the visual eloquence, serenity, timeless divinity, and other interconnected aspects of ecstasy and rhythmic harmony that emanate from the omnipresent realm of divine love and its inherent dignity.