The Gujarat Series: Art Exhibit

The current exhibit features twenty-three paintings in the Mithila style and exemplifies an important new conceptual methodology, political commentary, distinct from the traditional religious subject of this school. The paintings are currently touring the US and in addition to the exhibit at UT will be shown at Johns Hopkins University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Asia Society, New York. The exhibit will be on display in the Gebauer Building from April 4 to May 6, 2005. For more information, contact Arnold at 471-4141 or arnold.jin@mail.utexas.edu

The artist, Santosh Kumar Das, obtained a B.A in Fine Arts from Baroda University in 1992. Upon completing his degree, he returned to his home village of Ranti to work as a Mithila painter of the kachni (line) tradition. Dasa' work also has significance for gender studies as he employs an art form traditionally recognized as the domain of women. He is currently the Director of the Mithila Art Institute, where he works with young adults to further their talents within the Mithila painting traditions. He is also the Director of the Ethnic Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the continuing development of Mithila painting.