Amar Nath Sehgal |100 Years of Sehgal
To acknowledge an artist’s creative process, one must align with the intent and purpose behind his creation, his relationship with the medium and his artistic impulse. We have had the pleasure of acquainting ourselves with Amarnath Sehgal through his astounding legacy of artistic oeuvre. He created monumental works as a tribute to humanity’s greatest accomplishments despite being afflicted by tragedy and pain. His uncompromising honesty is an exceptional characteristic trait that also manifests in his sensational creations.
Amarnath Sehgal was one of India’s prominent modern artists. He was born on 5th February, 1922 to Ram Asra Mal and Parmeshwari Devi in Campbellpur, Attock district in present-day Pakistan. As a child, he was an introvert by nature and spent most of his time indulging in artistic activities and adventures. Despite being born into an entrepreneurial family, he had a natural affinity to fine arts.
A skilled artist, celebrated poet and art educator, Sehgal studied engineering before pursuing the arts. He is well known for his expressionist art practice delivered through a range of mediums. His art is reflective of his unusual, troubled and colourful psyche.
Amarnath Sehgal's studio in New Delhi was converted into a modern museum featuring an outstanding display of his private collection. NGMA accommodates a substantial portion of the artist's collection as well. A range of artworks in diverse mediums including drawings, pastels and sculptures constitute the total collection here. The team at NGMA headed by the Director General Shri Adwaita Gadanayak has striven to make Sehgal’s work available to a global audience through this virtual exhibition. This event is accompanied by a book launch to commemorate his intriguing odyssey on the occasion of his birth centenary.