Exhibition traces early years of Vadodara’s fine arts faculty

VADODARA: Art enthusiasts will get a peek into the work of artists from the founding days of the famed Faculty of Fine Arts of the MS University at an exhibition organized by the Sarjan Art Gallery.
The faculty is where the internationally renowned Baroda School of Fine Arts was born and nurtured.
The exhibition traces the evolution of art in the city through the works of 34 artists from the early decades of the faculty. Some of these artists had come to the faculty as teachers while others were students. Some others joined the faculty as students and went on to become teachers at their alma mater.
The works include those from amongst the first teachers at the faculty including a 1918 sketch by UP Rao. Works of stalwarts like NS Bendre, Sankho Chaudhuri, KG Subramanyan, Jyoti Bhatt, Bhupen Khakhar, GM Sheikh, Gyarsilal Varma, Mahendra Pandya, Shanti Dave, Nagji Patel, Jyotsna Bhatt, Jeram Patel, Vivan Sundaram, Nilima Sheikh, Rini Dhumal, Ratan Parimoo, Nasrin Mohammadi, Haku Shah and others are also on display.
The exhibition was under planning since 2019, but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The art works have been displayed much like a museum.
The exhibition has been dedicated to the founder of the gallery Kanti Rana and also marks the 25th anniversary of the gallery. The exhibition will remain on view till November 12.