9 new art shows in India we’re excited about this August
Revered creator from the Bengal School of Art, Nandalal Bose, who had the favour of both Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, actually had two artistic personas: one who created canvases that were more formal and the other who had fun with his brushstrokes. A new exhibition in Kolkata pays tribute to the latter with a selection of postcards, sketches and a significant demonstrative work in oil. Featuring works across themes set in nature, rural life, folk culture, flora and fauna, Bose’s postcard creations showcase the true expanse of his creativity, revealing the Mastermoshai of Santiniketan at his playful best.
On view at Art Exposure, 16/2 Lake Terrace, Kolkata until 28th August 2026
Sour Stars and Breadfruit Monsoons by Sahil Naik at Experimenter, Mumbai
The title of this exhibition comes from two distinct fruits: the Goan carambola or karmal, colloquially known as the star fruit, and the nirphanas or breadfruit, a monsoon delicacy in the sunshine state. Artist Sahil Naik’s latest show compiles scenographies of image-fragments to create new images that result in an ‘unravelling of history’, compelling viewers to see what their eyes wouldn’t show them at first glance. The artworks on display delve into histories, cartographies, geography, nature and even the intricacies of botanical relationships with sister colonies across South America and Asia. “Sahil’s images contest the imperial images. Here, identity is produced not through purity or a claim to nativity but through ongoing, unceasing encounters,” explains art curator Mario D’souza in his essay on the exhibition.
On view at Experimenter, Sunny House, Mereweather Road, Colaba, Mumbai until 29th August 2026
Cartographies of Remembrance at Anant Art, New Delhi
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