A master revived: Almelkar’s legacy
Where line becomes memory and colour becomes lived experience, A A Almelkar’s art continues to breathe with the rhythm of ordinary lives.
In a sophisticated intersection of history and contemporary appreciation, Gallery Silver Scapes, in collaboration with Dhoomimal Gallery, hosted, to celebrate the launch of ALMELKAR: THE RESURRECTION - Letters & Lines of a Master. Edited by Archana Khare-Ghose, this significant publication chronicles the life of the legendary AA Almelkar, offering a decolonial perspective on his rural figurations and his spiritual bond with his guru, Hiralal Khatri. Incorporating rare letters from the 1950s and 60s, the work provides a deeply personal window into the artist’s practice.
The presentation created a compelling dialogue between Almelkar’s lyrical figuration and the meditative abstractions of Akkitham Narayanan, who graced the evening with his presence. Bolstered by works from the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), the book features critical insights from Vikram Mayor, Lina Vincent, Rajendra Patil, and Rehaman Patel, alongside analyses by Deepak Kannal, Shivprasad Khened, and Rekha Hebbar Rao. Together, they situate Almelkar within the broader narrative of Indian modernism while preserving the intimate voice that defined his journey through tribal and folk cultures.
What stays is a sense of care. This volume is a necessary tribute that finally places the wanderer-guru back at the heart of India’s cultural memory. It represents a masterful reclamation of an artist who captured the rhythmic pulse of the soil with unparalleled grace. By honouring Almelkar, the editors have ensured that his profound legacy remains an accessible and enduring inspiration for generations. In today’s fast-moving cultural climate, the book stands as a gentle insistence that depth, patience and emotional truth still matter.
