Jagdish Swaminathan

Statement

Born in 1928 in Himachal Pradesh, India, Jagdish Swaminathan’s initial years saw him moving between a pre-medical course at Delhi, odd jobs in Kolkata, subsequent return to Delhi, working the days as a sub editor and taking evening art classes under Sailoz Mukherjee and B.C. Sanyal, which he eventually quit too. It was in 1957 that he joined the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw which eventually led to his first major exhibition upon his return. It was in 1962 that he founded “Group 1980” along other like minded practitioners such as Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Jyoti Bhatt, and others. The group had its first and last exhibition in 1963. 

Swaminathan’s work embraced the essence of Indian culture and spirituality, drawing inspiration from ancient Indian art, philosophy, and mythology. Through his practice he sought to convey the interconnectedness of all things and the eternal cycles of life. His position was clearly outlined in the Group 1980 manifesto which attacked “vulgar naturalism”, the idealism of the Bengal School, and the “hybrid mannerism” of European Modernism. Instead it urged other artists to see wonder in the virginal state. 

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