Rational Irrational

This exhibition celebrates the quiet brilliance of Kartick Chandra Pyne, a distinctive figure in Indian modern art whose imaginative, folk-inflected visual language remained largely unsung during his lifetime.
For over four decades, Pyne painted with a uniquely personal vision, expressing himself with a mastery of line, colour, and form that drew from both classical and folk traditions.

At the heart of Pyne’s work is the belief that art is not meant to be entirely understood through logic—it is the outcome of subconscious conception shaped by creative impulse. His compositions are often inexplicable even to himself, rich with untold stories and emotional undercurrents that invite individual interpretation. Each line and brushstroke becomes self-explanatory through its own rhythm of colour, light, and shade.

Contemporary masters such as Ganesh Pyne, Ganesh Haloi, and Jogen Chowdhury have admired Kartick Pyne’s originality. His paintings reveal a rare synthesis of spontaneity, imagination, and quiet exploration. Ganesh Pyne described him as both a creative artist and an explorer, noting his ability to paint in varied styles based on intentional vision. Ganesh Haloi appreciated his simplicity and folk-inspired spirit, while Jogen Chowdhury highlighted the indigenous forms and fantastical worlds that made Pyne incomparable at home and abroad.

Largely removed from the limelight, Kartick Pyne created a body of work imbued with magical realism, supernatural beauty, and visual poetry. This exhibition is a tribute to his enduring artistic journey—a world of birds, trees, and mythical forms—where the untold speaks volumes and imagination reigns supreme.