Exhibition and Workshop Highlight India’s Rich Cultural Heritage at Kokoro Art Gallery
Lucknow: A unique exhibition celebrating the renowned Kalighat Patachitra tradition of Bengal has opened at Kokoro Art Gallery in Lucknow, offering visitors an opportunity to explore one of India’s most distinctive folk art forms. The exhibition, which began on June 12, aims to introduce the richness of traditional Indian art to the public and younger generations while fostering appreciation for the country’s cultural heritage.
The exhibition was inaugurated by noted author and folklorist Vidya Bindu Singh. Alongside the exhibition, a two-day Kalighat Patachitra workshop is being organized on June 13 and 14, providing participants with hands-on experience in this historic art form.
Curated by Vandana Sehgal, the event features nearly 50 artworks by veteran folk artist Manoranjan Chitrakar, one of the leading contemporary practitioners of the Kalighat and Patachitra traditions. A major attraction is a 10-by-2-foot scroll painting conveying a message of environmental conservation and the importance of trees. The artist also explained the narrative artwork through traditional singing, a hallmark of Bengal’s storytelling art traditions.
Speaking about the exhibition, curator Vandana Sehgal explained that Kalighat Patachitra emerged in the nineteenth century among the Patua community living around the famous Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata. The style is known for its bold, flowing lines, vibrant colours, minimal backgrounds, and expressive storytelling. Created on handmade paper, these paintings combine simplicity with striking visual impact.
The exhibition explores the diverse themes of Kalighat art, ranging from depictions of Hindu deities and mythological narratives to scenes of everyday life, social customs, and contemporary issues. Traditional subjects such as Kali, Krishna and Radha, Ganesha, episodes from the Ramayana, and Mahishasuramardini appear alongside the famous “Babu-Bibi” series, which satirically portrayed social changes and colonial influences in nineteenth-century Bengal.
Visitors also gain insight into the traditional methods of creating Kalighat paintings. Historically, the art form was a collaborative family practice, with different members contributing to drawing, colouring, detailing, and finishing. Natural pigments derived from flowers, roots, soot, minerals, and plant materials were combined with organic binders to create rich colour palettes. Techniques such as tonal washes and metallic embellishments added depth and decorative appeal to the works.
A special section of the exhibition highlights the artistic journey of Manoranjan Chitrakar, who hails from West Medinipur district in West Bengal. Having begun his artistic career at the age of 15, he has spent more than three decades preserving and promoting Bengal’s folk painting traditions. His work is known for blending folklore, mythology, social commentary, and contemporary themes while maintaining the essence of traditional Patachitra.
Chitrakar’s artworks have been exhibited across India and internationally, including shows in Sweden and Paris. His paintings often draw inspiration from tribal life, particularly the Santhal community, while addressing modern social concerns through traditional visual language. Art critics and enthusiasts regard him as an important cultural ambassador who has helped keep the Patachitra tradition relevant in contemporary times.
Organizers said the exhibition and workshop serve not only as a celebration of Kalighat Patachitra’s artistic and historical significance but also as an important initiative to preserve and promote India’s folk arts among younger generations.
The exhibition will remain open to visitors at Kokoro Art Gallery until July 11, 2026, offering art lovers a rare opportunity to experience one of Bengal’s most influential folk art traditions in the heart of Lucknow.
