NEW DELHI.- Iconic Indian artists have pushed the boundaries of scale in India’s first ever exhibition dedicated to large-scale works. In the process, they have stepped out of their own comfort zones and created awe-inspiring canvases, sculptures and installations. At Saffronart’s Ode to the Monumental: Celebration. Visuality. Ideology (January 29 – February 4, 2012 at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi), visitors will get a rare opportunity to see massive works by leading modern and contemporary Indian artists.

The exhibit features twenty-four works by twenty-four prominent modern and contemporary Indian artists such as Jogen Chowdhury, K. G. Subramanyan, Ram Kumar, Krishen Khanna, Thota Vaikuntam, Satish Gujral, Anandajit Ray, Jagannath Panda, Nataraj Sharma and Laxma Goud, among others.

The focus on scale has led these artists to explore the format in both traditional and contemporary settings. While works by K.G. Subramanyam, T. Vaikuntam and Krishen Khanna are vibrant and celebratory, artists such as Nataraj Sharma, Kishor Shinde and others use this format to depict visuals from everyday life. Jogen Chowdhury uses scale to narrate an epic dedicated to the life of a woman and the various roles she plays. Laxma Goud, who usually works in a more intimate format, has created a 25 foot extravaganza that resonates with the earthy charm of the women of Telangana in a festive mood.

The show also includes a 45 foot video installation by Ranbir Kaleka whose works tantalize the viewer with a combination of the still image and video projections on canvas, accompanied by sound. Jagannath Panda has created a sculptural tableau that beckons the viewer to engage in the work by moving around it.

Ode to the Monumental will be accompanied by a book launch. The book, on sale at the exhibit and on Saffronart.com, will include essays by leading art critics and historians, on the featured works.

Dinesh Vazirani, CEO and co-founder of Saffronart said, “Ode to the Monumental began with the idea of artists expanding into new territory and creating on a scale that, while different from the norm today, harks back to the very origins of Indian painting. We are delighted to present this path breaking exhibition to the citizens of Delhi and art patrons visiting during the India Art Fair.”