Exhibitions

Rhyme Unbroken — Krishna Reddy as Artist and Perpetual Student

• Book ticket

“A mind that can change becomes timeless, selfless, and overflowing with creative power.” — Krishna Reddy

In celebration of printmaker, sculptor and teacher Krishna Reddy’s (b. 1925 Nandanoor, India – d. 2018 New York, USA) centenary year, Rhyme Unbroken delves into his life and the ideologies that influenced his practice. One of the first Indian artists of his generation to practise internationally, Reddy went on to win both the Padma Shri and Kala Ratna awards for his contributions to the world of modern Indian art and his masterful technical innovations in intaglio printmaking.

Born and raised in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh in the 1920s, Krishna Reddy trained at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, founded by Rabindranath Tagore to provide holistic human and social development. Here, he was mentored by the greats of Indian Modern art like Nandalal Bose and Ramkinkar Baij. His early education at the Rishi Valley School and his interactions with renowned Indian philosopher and pioneer of alternative education, Jiddu Krishnamurti, further cemented his belief in education that went beyond academics.

In post-World War II Paris, Krishna Reddy practised collaboratively with famous artists of the day, like William Hayter, at Atelier 17 — a revolutionary institution that shaped the direction of modernism and the graphic arts. He was the only Indian to be appointed as the Co-Director of this avante-garde printmaking studio in 1964.

Krishna Reddy firmly believed that learning is a lifelong process, and championed nurturing a childlike curiosity throughout life. As a teacher he spoke of artistic expression as a continuum of discovery and experimentation. He encouraged his students to reflect upon one’s role in the universe as being part of something larger. Reddy also recognised the growing disconnect between humans, nature, and spirituality. These ideas are prevalent in his works, which range across themes like nature studies, figurative bodies, and microscopic views.

Through forty-two of his artworks, Rhyme Unbroken explores Krishna Reddy as a student, and collaborative practitioner-turned teacher; whose students went on to teach others.

“Sowing a seed is only one part of a process. Watch how all the elements of nature got to work, spurring the seed.” — Krishna Reddy

MAP is grateful to Harsha & Srilatha Reddy for the gift of prints by Krishna Reddy.

The exhibition has been made possible in partnership with Bank of America

MAP is grateful to artists and scholars including Anupam Sud, Archana Hande, Abhishek Narayan Verma, Kavita Shah, RM Palaniappan, Priyoum Talukdar and Shukla Sawant for generously sharing their knowledge with us.

Rhyme Broken, 1977, Multicolour viscosity print on paper, Impression by the artist 5/5 HC, MAC.00878