THE RATIONAL PATH

The trajectory of an artist's creative life and the choices one makes to shape the art practice are evident through Sanjay Kumar's life led by example of his firm moral grounds and the rational belief system

-  Sanjay Kumar's

Bihar Museum, Patna, hosted a midcareer retrospective of painter-sculptor Sanjay Kumar (b. 1964) of the Antilia fame - his works decorate the walls of the swanky Mukesh Ambani home in Mumbai. Curated by Mumbaikar Nikhil Purohit, the show “Of Walking the Rational Path &...” carried on till January 28, 2023. A book compiled by Purohit titled “Sanjay Kumar-The Traveller of Rational Path” was also released on January 7, at the start of the show, which was a good opportunity to experience four decades of art practice of Mumbai-based Kumar from art school till today. The show revealed the journey of abstract compositions to the iconic “Statue of Peace’ via installations like Bhikshandehi and Bhiksha Patra (Bihar Museum Collection).

The show was an extension of the Bihar Museum’s role as a modern day cultural hub and to honour the legendary works of artists from the state. The trajectory of an artist’s creative life and the choices one makes to shape the art practice are evident through Kumar’s life led by example of his firm moral grounds and the rational belief system. The book records various anecdotes of humble beginnings and his acts of giving back to the society through various self-initiated and self-funded engagements in Patna and Mumbai. The exhibition served the purpose of offering local citizens, art-students, art enthusiasts, and connoisseurs an opportunity to learn about Kumar’s art practice, and philosophical ideas through the display of about 80- plus artworks, curator’s walkthrough, panel discussion, book release, and workshops for school children. The viewer could witness the gradual shifts in the artist's oeuvre from 1983 to 2022. The exhibition was classified into five different sub-schemas, namely: