Ratan Parimoo: Pioneer Abstractionist – An Exhibition of Paintings from 1958–1973

National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai | Opens 11 September 2025 | On View till 12 October 2025
Curatorial Advisor: Girish Shahane

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with Gallerie Splash, proudly presents Ratan Parimoo: Pioneer Abstractionist. Opening on 11 September 2025 at Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall, Fort, Mumbai, this landmark exhibition features more than 150 works created between 1958 and 1973, offering audiences an unparalleled view of one of Indian modernism’s most visionary figures.

Ratan Parimoo: Artist, Scholar, and Visionary

Born in 1936 in Srinagar, Ratan Parimoo is not only an influential painter but also an art historian, pedagogue, and recipient of the Padma Shri. He played a central role in shaping the discourse of modern Indian art, both through his paintings and his writings.

As a member of the pioneering Baroda School, Parimoo’s career unfolded during a period when Indian art was redefining itself in the decades after independence. While many of his contemporaries engaged in figuration, Parimoo boldly moved towards abstraction, marking a radical departure in India’s post-independence artistic trajectory. His practice has since come to be recognized as a cornerstone of Indian abstraction.

The Language of Abstraction

Between 1958 and 1973, Parimoo developed a body of work that remains both intellectually rigorous and emotionally powerful. His abstractions resist ornamentation and symbolism, instead privileging:

• Rhythm: Dynamic strokes and fluid lines that generate movement across the canvas.
• Painterly invention: Experimentation with form, texture, and process.
• Architectonic structures: Compositions that echo the solidity of built forms, yet retain a lyrical energy.
• Encaustic techniques: Bold experiments with wax and pigment, creating luminous surfaces and depth.

By shifting focus from representation to pure visual experience, Parimoo created works that resonate with both Indian traditions of abstraction (as found in ancient and tantric visual cultures) and global modernist dialogues. His canvases are simultaneously deeply local and globally attuned, situating Indian art within an international avant-garde.

Legacy and Influence

Ratan Parimoo is widely regarded as a pioneering abstractionist whose contributions shaped the trajectory of the Baroda School. As a teacher at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, he influenced generations of artists while also producing seminal texts on Indian art history. His dual role as a practitioner and scholar makes him unique in the annals of modern Indian art.

This retrospective not only foregrounds his artistic journey but also restores attention to his role in establishing Baroda as a major center of art practice and pedagogy in the post-independence years.

Curatorial Vision

The exhibition is presented with curatorial guidance by Girish Shahane, an eminent critic and curator. Shahane situates Parimoo’s work within the broader field of Indian abstraction, highlighting how his canvases anticipated future explorations of form, space, and visual rhythm in contemporary Indian art.

Ratan Parimoo: Pioneer Abstractionist is more than an exhibition—it is a tribute to the boldness of an artist who redefined Indian modernism. By privileging form over figuration, Parimoo opened pathways for abstraction in Indian art and left behind a body of work that continues to inspire artists, scholars, and audiences alike.

This retrospective provides a rare opportunity to engage with over 150 works spanning Parimoo’s most experimental years, reaffirming his place as a visionary modernist whose abstractions remain urgent and resonant even today.