The Silent Canvas Speaks Again — A Timeless Master Returns to the Spotlight

The Silent Canvas Speaks Again

Dil Bar Irshad | June 10, 2025 | 09:36 PM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

The Silent Canvas Speaks Again — A Timeless Master Returns to the Spotlight

A solo retrospective of Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal inaugurated at India International Centre, New Delhi

“After three decades, the paintings of the late Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal were exhibited in a show titled ‘The Silent Canvas Speaks Again’, held at the Annexe Art Gallery, India International Centre, Lodhi Estate. The exhibition, curated by his granddaughter Priyam Chandra, is a heartfelt tribute to his extraordinary legacy as a visionary artist, philosopher, and cultural mentor.”

The inauguration was graced by Padma Bhushan awardee Jatin Das, acclaimed art critic and author Ms. Uma Nair, and noted poet and curator Shri Prayag Shukla. They made the event special by remembering how much Prof. Sanghal gave to art world.

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Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal was born on 14th July 1914 in Muzaffarnagar. He had keen interest in art since childhood. Being a true patriot, he was actively participating in non-cooperation movement for independence of India and got arrested several times. Thereafter, his family advised him to travel far away from his hometown. With the support of a friend, he landed in Government School of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow from where he completed formal training in fine art although his search for true art remained unsatiated.

In 1938 he established his own institute ‘Kala Bharti’ at Prayagraj which imparted training in Fine Arts, Classical Music and Classical Dance. His institute flourished and attracted many luminaries like two former Prime Ministers – Indira Gandhi and Vishwanath Pratap Singh. At the advice of his gurus, A.K Halder and Avneendranath Tagore he accepted the position of Professor and later as the Principal of Government School of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow. He served the school relentlessly till 1973.

Prof. Sanghal was a painter from the Bengal school of art, he evolved the existing technique of wash paintings and came up with his original technique. Paintings made with his wash technique makes them last for thousands of years. His paintings are a true reflection of human emotions and human psychology. Each painting conveys its own story and philosophy. His years of research on Indian ‘rasa’ (emotional flavours) made each of his painting reflect different human emotions through symbolic colours. Although his major focus was wash paintings, he mastered lacsit paintings (water color paintings on wood), silk paintings (water colour in silk cloth), tapestries (fine art embroidery on khadi cloth), landscapes, oil paintings, portraits and sculptures.

He penned down his methods of teaching, his philosophy, art aesthetics and history in his book ‘Bhartiya Chitrakala Paddhati’ which was published in the year 1985 in Hindi. Sanghal was art advisor of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (First Prime Minister of India), as Nehru ji was very fond of Indian Art and on his personal advice, he has written a book on Art ‘Evolution of Art and Artist’ in three volumes. This book took 12 years to complete and his family is trying to get it published. It covers all historical, philosophical, aesthetical and technical aspects of all schools of Art.

Prof. Sanghal was honoured with various prizes and accolades in all India art exhibitions by All India Art and Craft Society, Bombay Art Society and Academy of Fine Arts (Calcutta) for different paintings in varied mediums. His painting Thou art dust, to dust returnest was purchased for Royal Collection by Late Emperor George V of Great Britain. He also has the rare distinction of having

designed the marriage invitation card of Smt. Indira Gandhi. This was done on the special invitation of Pandit Nehru in 1942, and it was highly appreciated in India and abroad.

He did a grand solo show of his paintings at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the year 1992. After his retirement he continued imparting training in art at his residence in Lucknow. He was also a music enthusiast and learnt classical music from Pandit Bholabhatt for 5 years. He had thorough knowledge of principals of Naturopathy, Yoga and natural healing and he applied that knowledge for his own benefit and for the welfare of the society.

He kept away from social din and publicity, leaving for his heavenly abode on 29th November 2006. As a tribute to him, State Lalit Kala Academy, Uttar Pradesh organized his retrospective art exhibition in March 2022. In his memory, Lucknow metro rail corporation inaugurated an art

exhibition of his paintings in April 2022. On the occasion of his 108th birth anniversary, Rhastriya Kala Manch and Kala Bharti trust organised an art exhibition cum wash panting workshop at Goel group of institutions, Lucknow. An art exhibition cum wash painting workshop was organized on his 109th birth anniversary at Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation to bring awareness about his unique wash technique.

As a tribute to his art legacy, Lucknow Nagar Nigam honoured Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal on the 16th anniversary of his passing in 2022 by naming a significant road in Kesarbagh, located in front of his residence, as Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal Road. His art imbues our lives with deeper significance and will serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

“The Silent Canvas Speaks Again” will be on view from 9th to 17th June 2025 at the Annexe Art Gallery, IIC, New Delhi. Entry is free, and all are welcome to experience this compelling journey through art, memory, and history.

“After three decades, the paintings of the late Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal were exhibited in a show titled ‘The Silent Canvas Speaks Again’, held at the Annexe Art Gallery, India International Centre, Lodhi Estate. The exhibition, curated by his granddaughter Priyam Chandra, is a heartfelt tribute to his extraordinary legacy as a visionary artist, philosopher, and cultural mentor.”

The inauguration was graced by Padma Bhushan awardee Jatin Das, acclaimed art critic and author Ms. Uma Nair, and noted poet and curator Shri Prayag Shukla. They made the event special by remembering how much Prof. Sanghal gave to art world 

Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal was born on 14th July 1914 in Muzaffarnagar. He had keen interest in art since childhood. Being a true patriot, he was actively participating in non-cooperation movement for independence of India and got arrested several times. Thereafter, his family advised him to travel far away from his hometown. With the support of a friend, he landed in Government School of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow from where he completed formal training in fine art although his search for true art remained unsatiated.

In 1938 he established his own institute ‘Kala Bharti’ at Prayagraj which imparted training in Fine Arts, Classical Music and Classical Dance. His institute flourished and attracted many luminaries like two former Prime Ministers – Indira Gandhi and Vishwanath Pratap Singh. At the advice of his gurus, A.K Halder and Avneendranath Tagore he accepted the position of Professor and later as the Principal of Government School of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow. He served the school relentlessly till 1973.

Prof. Sanghal was a painter from the Bengal school of art, he evolved the existing technique of wash paintings and came up with his original technique. Paintings made with his wash technique makes them last for thousands of years. His paintings are a true reflection of human emotions and human psychology. Each painting conveys its own story and philosophy. His years of research on Indian ‘rasa’ (emotional flavours) made each of his painting reflect different human emotions through symbolic colours. Although his major focus was wash paintings, he mastered lacsit paintings (water color paintings on wood), silk paintings (water colour in silk cloth), tapestries (fine art embroidery on khadi cloth), landscapes, oil paintings, portraits and sculptures.

He penned down his methods of teaching, his philosophy, art aesthetics and history in his book ‘Bhartiya Chitrakala Paddhati’ which was published in the year 1985 in Hindi. Sanghal was art advisor of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (First Prime Minister of India), as Nehru ji was very fond of Indian Art and on his personal advice, he has written a book on Art ‘Evolution of Art and Artist’ in three volumes. This book took 12 years to complete and his family is trying to get it published. It covers all historical, philosophical, aesthetical and technical aspects of all schools of Art.

Prof. Sanghal was honoured with various prizes and accolades in all India art exhibitions by All India Art and Craft Society, Bombay Art Society and Academy of Fine Arts (Calcutta) for different paintings in varied mediums. His painting Thou art dust, to dust returnest was purchased for Royal Collection by Late Emperor George V of Great Britain. He also has the rare distinction of having

designed the marriage invitation card of Smt. Indira Gandhi. This was done on the special invitation of Pandit Nehru in 1942, and it was highly appreciated in India and abroad.

He did a grand solo show of his paintings at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the year 1992. After his retirement he continued imparting training in art at his residence in Lucknow. He was also a music enthusiast and learnt classical music from Pandit Bholabhatt for 5 years. He had thorough knowledge of principals of Naturopathy, Yoga and natural healing and he applied that knowledge for his own benefit and for the welfare of the society.

He kept away from social din and publicity, leaving for his heavenly abode on 29th November 2006. As a tribute to him, State Lalit Kala Academy, Uttar Pradesh organized his retrospective art exhibition in March 2022. In his memory, Lucknow metro rail corporation inaugurated an art

exhibition of his paintings in April 2022. On the occasion of his 108th birth anniversary, Rhastriya Kala Manch and Kala Bharti trust organised an art exhibition cum wash panting workshop at Goel group of institutions, Lucknow. An art exhibition cum wash painting workshop was organized on his 109th birth anniversary at Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation to bring awareness about his unique wash technique.

As a tribute to his art legacy, Lucknow Nagar Nigam honoured Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal on the 16th anniversary of his passing in 2022 by naming a significant road in Kesarbagh, located in front of his residence, as Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal Road. His art imbues our lives with deeper significance and will serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

“The Silent Canvas Speaks Again” will be on view from 9th to 17th June 2025 at the Annexe Art Gallery, IIC, New Delhi. Entry is free, and all are welcome to experience this compelling journey through art, memory, and history.

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.