Chawla Art Gallery’s Continuum Traces Three Decades of Asit Kumar Patnaik’s Art, Bringing Unseen Works to the Fore

New Delhi,Oct 19: For artist Asit Kumar Patnaik, the flowing red hair of the women who recur throughout his paintings is more than a visual signature. It is a symbol of strength, freedom and emotional presence, rooted in his admiration for his mother, who raised five children and ensured their education and well-being after the early death of their father. This personal history offers one way into Continuum: A 30-Year Retrospective, presented by Chawla Art Gallery and curated by Shibani Chawla. Following its presentation at LTC Gallery, Bikaner House, from 15–18 October 2026, the exhibition is now on view at Chawla Art Gallery, Saket, until 30 November 2026.

The preview brought together distinguished members of the art and cultural community, including Jatin Das, Prof. Niren Sengupta, Maite Delteil, Prayag Shukla, Sushma K. Bahl, Laxman Aelay, Amrit Kiran Singh, Ramesh Gorjala and Manu Mansheet Rai, among others.

Bringing together around 50 works spanning 1995 to the present, including previously unseen paintings and works on paper, Continuum traces Patnaik’s artistic journey across three decades. From his early explorations in drawing and observation to his later experiments with texture, materials and composition, the works reveal how his practice has evolved while retaining a sustained interest in human relationships and the emotions that shape them. The retrospective is accompanied by the launch of a coffee table book documenting Patnaik’s three-decade artistic journey, extending the exhibition’s exploration of his evolving practice beyond the gallery walls.

The red-haired women are central to Patnaik’s Man-Woman series, through which he explores the complexities of human relationships. The figures are not portraits of specific individuals, but representations of the emotions that shape relationships: love, longing, companionship, misunderstanding and hope. His compositions often hold together closeness and distance, tenderness and tension, allowing silence and gesture to communicate what words may leave unsaid.

Patnaik’s interest in these themes has developed alongside a sustained exploration of material. Working across canvas, wood, fibreglass, paper collage and threads, he uses texture and surface as integral parts of his visual language. His works move between figuration and abstraction, with lines, forms and material interventions adding depth to the emotional worlds he creates.

The exhibition also reflects the evolution of Patnaik’s practice, from his early experiments with drawing and observation to a more layered approach to form, texture and composition. Across the works, the artist continues to explore the relationship between the visible and the unspoken, creating paintings that invite viewers to look beyond the figures and consider the emotions and experiences they embody.

Reflecting on his journey, Patnaik says,

“Looking back at 30 years of my practice, I see a journey shaped by constant learning, experimentation and discovery. From my early years in Cuttack and Banaras to developing my practice in Delhi, my surroundings and experiences have continually influenced the way I work. While my mediums and visual language have evolved, my curiosity and desire to explore have remained constant. Continuum brings together different stages of this journey, allowing me to reflect on how far I have come while remaining open to what lies ahead.”

Shibani Chawla, curator of the exhibition, says,

“Our association with Asit spans nearly three decades, and Continuum offers an opportunity to look at his practice beyond individual works or phases. What stands out is the way he has built a distinctive visual language while remaining willing to experiment and take artistic risks. Bringing these works together reveals the connections across his journey, as well as the shifts that have shaped his practice over time.”

A Gold Medalist in Painting from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Patnaik has exhibited his work in India and internationally. He received the Best Solo Exhibitor Award at Art Expo New York in 2024. From his early years in Cuttack and his formative time in Banaras to the development of his practice in Delhi, his artistic journey has been shaped by observation, experimentation and an enduring interest in the human condition.