Born in 1937 in West Bengal, Arpita Singh received her diploma in Fine Arts at the Delhi Polytechnic before taking up the job of a designer at the Weaver's Service Centres in Kolkata and New Delhi. Each of Arpita Singh’s drawings, watercolours on paper, and oils on canvas has a story to tell. To simply say that this renowned artist’s work is narrative would be a gross understatement. Afflicted by the problems that are faced each and every day by women in her country and the world in general, Singh paints the range of emotions that she exchanges with these subjects – from sorrow to joy and from suffering to hope – providing a view of the ongoing communication she maintains with them.
Since the beginning of her career Arpita has been assiduously learning the craft of painting in rhythm with her absorption of modernist reductionism. Her native paintings are unlabored particularly piquant and their comments on the 'space' of women and the girl child in the society, and on the atrophied sensibilities of modern man, growing violence and social injustice. Arpita literally 'builds up' the painted surface, with. the same patient facility both in oil and watercolor. The surface tension created by the short, overlapping patches of pigments and tones is often transmitted to the surreal surprise which arise out of the continuous synchronicity of domestic objects and flower vase and aero plane, guns-, soldiers and killers hidden behind bushes in a park and men and women oblivious of corpses strewn around. She thinks with her paintings.
The artist’s colours are vibrant, her palette usually dominated by pinks and blues, and her paintings burst at the seams with teeming life forms and objects or motifs like guns, cars, planes, animals, trees and flowers. Described as a figurative artist and a modernist, Arpita Singh still makes it a point to stay tuned in to traditional Indian art forms and aesthetics, like miniaturist painting and different forms of folk art, employing them in her work regularly. The way in which she uses perspective and the narrative in her work is steeped in the miniaturist traditions and a direct reflection of her background.
Arpita lives and works in New Delhi.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
· 2015-16 'Works on paper', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2012 DC Moore Gallery, New York
· 2010-11 'Cobweb', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi; The Museum Gallery, Mumbai
· 2006 ‘Picture Postcard 2003 – 2006’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2003 ‘Memory Jars’, Bose Pacia Modern, New York
· 1997 Bose Pacia Gallery, New York
· 1997 Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
· 1996 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
· 1994 Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 1994 ‘Drawing 94’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
· 1993 Schoo’s Gallery (Foundation for Indian Artists) Amsterdam
· 1992 Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi
· 1991,90,87 Art Heritage, New Delhi
· 1987,90 Gallery 7, Mumbai
· 1978,82,85 Art Heritage, New Delhi
· 1977 Werl, West Germany
· 1976 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
· 1975 Dhoomomal Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 1972 Kunika Chemould Art Centre, New Delhi
Selected Group Exhibitions
· 2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 2013 'Edge of Reason- and beyond, into pure creativity', presented by Indian Art Circle at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 2012 'Extending the Line', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2012 'Gallery Collection', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2011 'Adbhutam: Rasa in Indian Art', Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
· 2011 'The Path of the Lotus: Indian Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London
· 2011 'Fabular Bodies: New Narratives in the Art of the Miniature', presented by Harmony Art Foundation at Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharah Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
· 2011 'Seduction by Masquerade', Nature Morte, New Delhi
· 2011 'Pause: A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
· 2011 'Tolstoy Farm: Archive of Utopia', presented by Seven Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 2011 'Narrations, Quotations & Commentaries', Grosvenor Gallery, London
· 2011 'Of Humour, Wit & Satire', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
· 2010-11 'A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
· 2010 'The Modernists', RL Fine Arts, New York
· 2010 'Paper Trails', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2010 'From Miniature to Modern: Traditions in Transition', Rob Dean Art, London in association with Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
· 2010 'Symbols and Metaphors', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
· 2009 'Bharat Ratna! Jewels of Modern Indian Art', Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
· 2009 'Progressive to Altermodern: 62 Years of Indian Modern Art', Grosvenor Gallery, London
· 2009 'Kalpana: Figurative Art in India', presented by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at Aicon Gallery, London
· 2009 'The Root of Everything', Gallery Mementos, Bangalore
· 2008 'Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2008 'Of Personal Narratives And Journeys', Bodhi Art, Gurgaon
· 2008 'Fluid Structures: Gender and Abstraction', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2008 ‘Freedom 2008: Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
· 2007-08 ‘India Art Now: Between Continuity and Transformation’, Province of Milan, Milan, Italy
· 2007 ‘Horn Please: Narratives in Contemporary Indian Art’, Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland
· 2007 ‘Tiger by the Tail ! Women Artists of India Transforming Culture’, Women’s Studies Research Centre (WSRC), Brandeis University, USA in partnership with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi
· 2007 'Making History Our Own', organized by SAHMAT at All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
· 2006-07 ‘Inventing / Inverting Traditions’, Indian Art II / III, Grosvenor Vadehra, London
· 2005 ‘Manifestations III’, Delhi Art Gallery, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Nehru Centre, Mumbai
· 2004 ‘Stree’, Bodhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2002 ‘Ways of Resisting’, SAHMAT, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
· 1997 ‘The Self and the World’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
· 1996 ‘Chamatkara’, organized by Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata at London
· 1996 ‘Traditions / Tensions’, Asia Society, New York
· 1994 ‘Mobile Creches’, at Habiart Centre: Art for Childrens Sake’, New Delhi
· 1994 ‘Drawing 94’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
· 1993 ‘India Songs’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
· 1993 ‘Wounds’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
· 1993 ‘Two Artists’, Washington D.C
· 1993 ‘Trends and Images’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
· 1993 ‘London: Indian Encounters’, Gallery Madras
· 1992 ‘Husain Ki Sarai’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 1992 ‘The Subjective Eye’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
· 1991 ‘Helpage India’, Mumbai
· 1990 Habitat Gallery, Habitat Centre, New Delhi
· 1990 ‘Nine Indian Contemporaries’, Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), New Delhi
· 1989 ‘Timeless Art’, The Times of India, Mumbai
· 1989 ‘Artist Alert’, SAHMAT, New Delhi
· 1989 ‘Through The Looking Glass’, Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi
· 1988 ‘Contemporary Figurative Indian Art’, Kuwait
· 1988 ‘Water Color by four Painters’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
· 1987 ‘Geneva: Coups de Coueur’, Halle Sud, Switzerland
· 1987 ‘Helpage India’, Taj Hotel, Mumbai
· 1987 ‘Four Painters’, Bhopal, New Delhi, Bangalore
· 1985 ‘Five Indian Painters’, Istanbul, Ankara, Belgrade
· 1984 ‘Three Painters’, Cymroza Gallery, Mumbai
· 1984 Inaugural Exhibition, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
· 1977 ‘Pictorial Space’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 1972 ‘Two Painters’, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
· 1972 ‘Twenty Five Years of Indian Art’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 1969,71,72 ‘Art Today’, Kunika Chemould Art Centre, New Delhi
· 1963 ‘In Memory of Sailoz Mukherjea’, Kunika Chemould Art Centre, New Delhi
· 1960,61,62 ‘The Unknown’, New Delhi
Joint Exhibitions
· 2016 'Reflected Verses' with Shilpa Gupta, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
Participations
· 2013-14 'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
· 2012 'The Calendar Project: Iconography in the 20th Century', part of Project CINEMA CITY: Research Art & Documentary Practices presented by National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Ministry of Culture, Government of India at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
· 2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
· 2012 ‘To Let the World In: Narrative and Beyond in Contemporary Indian Art’, as part of Art Chennai, Edition II at Lalit Kala Regional Centre, Chennai
· 2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
· 2011 'Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', from the Collection of Shelley and Donald Rubin at Museum Oglethorpe, Atlanta
· 2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
· 2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
· 2010 'Art Celebrates 2010: Sports and the City', represented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games
· 2008-09 ''Modern India', organized by Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM) and Casa Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture at Valencia, Spain
· 2008-09 ‘Expanding Horizons: Contemporary Indian Art’, Traveling Exhibition presented by Bodhi Art at Ravinder Natya Mandir, P.L.Despande Kala Academy Art Gallery, Mumbai; Sant Dyaneshwar Natya Sankul Art Gallery, Amravati; Platinum Jubilee Hall, Nagpur; Tapadia Natya Mandir Sports Hall, Aurangabad; Hirachand Nemchand Vachanalay’s, Solapur; Acharya Vidyanand Sanskrutik Bhavan, Kolhapur; PGSR Sabhagriha, SNDT, Pune; Sarvajanik Vachanalaya Hall, Nasik
· 2008 'Moderns', Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Embassy of India, Amman, Jordan
· 1987 Algeria Biennale, Algeria
· 1987 2nd Biennale, Havana, Cuba
· 1986 ‘Festival of India in France’, Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris
· 1986 Roopankar Biennale, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
· 1984 ‘Indo-Greek Cultural Festival’, Athens, Delphi, Greece
· 1982 ‘Contemporary Indian Art, Festival of India’, Royal Academy of Arts, London
· 1982 Vth Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
· 1975 IIIrd Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
Honours and Awards
· 2011 Padma Bhushan, Government of India
· 1998-99 Awarded Kalidas Sanman, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
· 1981,92 All India Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh
· 1987 Algeria Biennale, Algeria
· Parishad Sanman, Sahitya- Kala Parishad, New Delhi