Exhibition to commemorate 125th birth anniv of Jamini Roy

An exhibition showcasing the works of Jamini Roy was inaugurated here today to commemorate 125th birth anniversary of the eminent artist.
Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch inaugurated the exhibition titled 'Jamini Roy (1887-1972): Journey to the Roots'.
"Jamini Roy's contribution in the growth and shaping of modern Indian art is well-established and enormously significant. His artworks have a particular appeal in the popular imagination because of their strong, simple forms and vibrant colours," Katoch said while paying tribute to the artist.
The paintings of animals, birds, mythological heroes, village folk and most significantly those of women were executed to make them appear very lively characters exuding a zest for life.

"Women especially are painted in very graceful postures. The paintings of Roy have the simplest of forms rendered with bold and swift strokes of the brush and enclosing the bright, vivid colours that make them a visual delight to experience," she said.
Roy popularised the simple folk idioms and themes in his paintings, which were derived from the surroundings of his native village at Beliatore, she said, adding the artist very consciously chose to live a life of simplicity and effortlessly bridged the distance between academic training and traditional craft expressions.
The work of Roy was declared as National Treasure in 1976, along with seven other artists.

National Gallery of Modern Art has one of the finest collections of Roy paintings, many of which the museum acquired during the lifetime of the artist and after his death from the artist's immediate family.