Swatantra

Celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence

Swatantra

Art and its role in the Indian Freedom Movement Art as a silent medium of Nationalist sentiment played a significant role in the Indian Freedom Movement. Ahimsa, Swadeshi, Non Cooperation, Quit India Movement, Namak Satyagrah etc were silently depicted through Indian Art. There were numerous vehicles employed, such as Paintings, Portraits of National Leaders, Sculptures, Posters, etc for spreading the sentiment of the Freedom
Struggle. Lithography, Oleographs, Engravings, Offset Prints etc reproduced these Artworks so as to reach the multitudes across the Nation. The message was strong and clear that Bharat Mata and her children aspire and struggle to achieve complete Sovereignty and Independence.

The exhibition ‘Swatantra’ is a celebration of the several Artists and Art Institutes spread across the Nation, who in their own unique way, through their Art contributed to the Indian Freedom Movement. Some of them have been lost in time, while some big names have outshined others. The exhibition showcases
works by both the known and lesser known artists. There are masters of the Bengal Renaissance namely Jamini Roy, Gaganedranath Tagore, S. Ghosh, etc to name a few. There are Oleographs from several known publishing houses. The Popular art mediums like the Vintage Miniature Nathdwara Collage paintings, Product labels etc are inherent to ‘Swatantra’.
A special focus is on Chitrashala, the Mussoorie based Art Studio which specialized in Portraits of the Indian National Leaders. Several of their works adore the Mussoorie Municipal Board room. The studio was burnt down in a fire in late 1960’s and later renamed as Kalaniketan, which in todays mass touristic Mussoorie town lies submerged under the old memories.