Judgement in the Trial of Akbar Padamsee

Presented by Priyasri Art Gallery and supported by Bhanu Padamsee, Chronicle of Lovers revisits a defining moment in Akbar Padamsee’s artistic life which is the 1954 obscenity trial that shaped the discourse on artistic freedom in India. At just 25, Padamsee returned from Paris for his debut solo at Jehangir Art Gallery, only to be charged under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code for two paintings, Lovers 1 and Lovers 2 which depicted intimate expressions of love.

Seized by the police and deemed obscene, these works became the center of a year-long legal battle. Akbar, undeterred, fought for his right to artistic expression and was acquitted by both the Lower and Higher Courts. The exhibition draws from original archival materials such as diary notes, court judgments, letters, police correspondence, and news clippings which were meticulously preserved by Shahbibi Padamsee, the artist’s sister-in-law. These are brought together in a compelling narrative written by arts journalist Reema Gehi Desai.

A key highlight is a short theatrical performance directed by Quasar Thakore Padamsee, told through Shahbibi’s voice, offering intimate insights into the trial. The gallery also video-projects Lovers 2, alongside Man in Cityscape (1953), which featured on the invite of Padamsee’s debut exhibition.

The second section, Chronicle of Lovers in the 1980s, presents later works from the Lovers series, tracing its evolution into 2017. This exhibition not only celebrates Padamsee’s legacy but also reaffirms the enduring struggle and triumph of artistic freedom in modern Indian art.