GET CLOSER  it's time to celebrate! 

The story started in the fourth quarter of the year 2010. The visionary artist, Gouri Shankar Mukherjee, received an  encouragement guidance, from his mentor in life Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, to write his own history a page a day. Being an artist, he declared that he would draw a visual verse each day of 2011. On January 1, 2011, one visual verse a day would get drawn on white letter size paper with Lamy pen, a magnificent gift to him from his daughter Aditi. On December 31, 2011, one year of visual verse manifested. 

They all got compiled in four sections and was shared with friends and literate gurus. A write-up followed and titling of the visual poetry began. Satya was very thoughtful to write a foreword. Rajat took time out of his busy schedule to write an impression and introduction to each section.  

The Book took a logical shape after going through several dummies and sizes. Kudos to Vishal for his selfless help. 

Pushpānjali consists of two volumes. Volume one has Damayata and Daata, and in Volume two has Dayadhyam and Sneha. There are 365 visual verse in these two volumes. 

Gouri Shankar Mukherjee (vignette)

Artist. Promoter of ‘Cultural Dialogue’ through peace, culture, and education. Methodology used is visual arts and life balance.

Significant purpose in life: Saved two children aged 5 and 7 from drowning, 1974. Yours truly.

“GOURI Shankar Mukherjee is a visionary artist. His unique international background prompts him to explore different cultures and inspires him to be an open-minded and creative artist.”

Gouri’s Guru in Art is Sh. Santosh K Roy Chowdhury, and Mentor in life is Dr. Daisaku Ikeda.

He grew up professionally under the guidance of (Sh.) Bimal Das Gupta, Pranab Chakraborty, Paramjit Singh, Krishan Ahuja, Jagadish Dey, Niren Sengupta, Phalguni Dasgupta, P Mahajan, S. Sen Roy, S.K. Bhattacharya, Mickey Patel, and Sudhir Deokar, to name a few.

’Spearheaded several creative and training processes:

Specific areas of expertise were in the fields of creative interactive ‘communications design’ and ‘life balance’ curriculum.

Achievements include: TecKnowPark; TecKnowHive; ‘Freedom by Design’- a talent engagement tool; Versatool – template creation tool; Launched ‘KaleidoScope’ - in-house communication design newsletter; Developed on-line and classroom communication design courses (94 hrs and 40 hrs); Has been a faculty for ‘Life Balance’ curriculum at the DLC, Chhindwara, M.P. and NIIT University.

Between 1974 and 2000, worked for advertising agencies: 

Hindustan Thompson Associates, Ogilvy & Mather, Clarion McCann, Contract, J Walter Thompson (Colombo), on diversified brands: ITDC, Escorts, British Airways, Dabur, Pure Drinks, Beecham, Nestlé, Ravissant, Vam Organic, PCRA, MTNL, DCM Toyota, Ind-Suzuki, Project Ganga, Gillette, NIIT, HCL, HM, Usha, Kelvinator Magicook, Mera Bharat Mahaan, UniLevers, Carrier, Pall Mall, Overnite Express, Safexpress, Maruti, IDD, Pulse Polio to name a few.

’Was instrumental in creating numerous corporate identities:

20 Point Program, Apartheid International, Navyug School, Ambassador Nova, Kelvinator Magicook, Usha Lexus, Safexpress, Escorts Revascularization, DCM Toyota, Ind Suzuki, Metamorphosis, IPEN (Global Network for Program Development and Evaluation), IQL, IBC, Pragati Printers, and TNI to name a few.

Designed awareness programme for social causes: 

Sanjivini, Helpage, UNICEF, Pollution Control, Iodine Deficiency Disorder, Global Warming, and Pulse Polio.

’Received recognition and awards for advertising campaigns in prints and films, editorial design, hotel and corporate graphics (Calcutta Advertising Club, Delhi Ad Club and Bombay Ad Club, PATA).

He is a recipient of National award (1984)under POP category and has designed philatelic stamp (1988)for the first war of Indian independence. Second best life drawing SIGGRAPH (2005) Los Angeles, SIGGRAPH (2007) Boston, USA.

“Gouri also makes a conscious effort” as Satya Narayanan R writes, “to affect the next generation through his positive thoughts and artistic expertise. In my own estimation, that is the most visible mark we leave when we are gone. Our impact lasts a wee-bit longer when children of today pick a thing or two and perpetuate the goodness of it in their own lives and in the world around them. I am sure Gouri's mentoring of these children will multiply the goodness in its own infinitesimal way.”

At present he practices two visual learning pedagogies with learners:

1 - Learning to see, and 2 - Reflecting your soul.

‘Authoredbooks titled: Pushpānjali – a collection of visual verse.

https://youtu.be/w671RsjNBvQ?si=1jzKIGeshYWSDF3t

https://youtu.be/nChr0BC-Lbg?si=7CtiT--qwV__W8x9

Archived in the library of Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi 110001.

And, Fifty-two Fridays in Love– a colouring book.

Group shows:

1969, 1970, 1971, 1972: College of Art, New Delhi; 1976: SOGRAD, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi; 2009: DLF Gurgaon; 2010: Soka University, Orange County, California; 2013: The 4thFlexhibition at The Research and Innovation Ashram, Guwahati; 2015: Life at its best: Visual Art Gallery, New Delhi; 2017: Confluence2017: Open Palm Court, IHC; 2021: ekAtm - Assimilated in One, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures, Visual Art Gallery, New Delhi.

Solo shows:

2017: Respecting Duality Aanondo, Open Palm Court, IHC; 2019: Pushpānjali – a visual recitation, Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi; 2021: Gratitude, an exhibition of drawings and paintings, dedicated to the frontline workers fighting against Covid-19 saving lives of our loved ones, AIFACS, New Delhi, 2023: SENSATIONS: Fifty-two fridays in love - an exhibition of drawings and paintings at the AIFACS.

On-line shows:

2021: Sanskar Bharati kala pradarshan; 2021: Gratitude an exhibition of drawings and paintings.

Private collection: UAE, USA, India, Germany.

’Born in 1950, and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from the University of Delhi, 1974. Gouri lives in Delhi/Gurgaon with his wife, Shobhana. His health is excellent. And, loves fish, sweets, music and watching football. They dream of experiencing all the art galleries in the world. They pray for everyone’s happiness.

Residence and studio:

C 535 C R Park, New Delhi 110019. A 91, GF, South City 2, Gurgaon 122018.