The exhibition, “Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art”, from Nov 14 to Aug 22, 2010 represents the first time that a significant number of works from the renowned collection of Rajiv Jahangir Chaudhri and his spouse, who have assembled some of the finest examples of post-independence Indian art, will be displayed publicly.
“Bharat Ratna”, literally “Jewels of India” is also the first exhibition of modern Indian art at the MFA, and the first exhibition of Indian art at a major American museum in nearly 30 years, according to a museum news release.
“The Chaudhris have collected some of the most outstanding examples of modernist and contemporary Indian art, which document the evolution of a vibrant and influential artistic period in India,” said Malcolm Rogers, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the MFA. “The MFA is grateful for the opportunity to display such exquisite treasures.”
Rajiv Chaudhri says, “I am a firm believer in the idea that the art of all ages and regions is the common heritage of mankind.
“Since Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese art are part of my heritage, it follows that I also believe that Indian art is, or should be, part of the heritage of America, Europe and other regions of the world. Bravo to the MFA for taking the leadership role in this area.”
“Bharat Ratna! “offers a visually exciting dialogue between the evolving modernism of western art and the deeply rooted traditions of India and the multiple different approaches that Indian artists took, in the aftermath of Independence, to define their own and “Indian” art.
On view in the MFA’s Indian Paintings and Decorative Arts Gallery, the exhibition includes works by several of the leading artists of the last 60 years.
All 16 works will be featured in a 32-page colour publication, which includes essays by Rajiv Chaudhri and Edward Saywell, Chair of Contemporary Art and MFA Programmes, and curator of “Bharat Ratna!”
The MFA is recognised for the quality and scope of its encyclopedic collection, which includes an estimated 450,000 objects.
