Born in Lyallpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan), in the year 1925, Krishen Khanna moved to Shimla during the
partition. He then joined Grindlays Bank and was transferred to Mumbai. Inclined towards art, he was invited
to join the Progressive Artists Group with whom he had a short but impactful association. Krishen Khanna was
awarded the Rockefeller Fellowship in 1962 and was a resident artist at the American University in Washington
between 1963-64. He trained in the discipline of Sumi-e, a Chinese ink wash technique introduced by Zen
Buddhists. He experimented with this new learning on rice paper and created a series of abstract works.
The turbulent news of Gandhi's demise was captured by the artist through his painting titled 'News
of Gandhi's Death' reflecting his ability to capture the entire city's emotions through the canvas.
Here, the subjects were the general public as they read about this horrific news gathered together.
After returning to India from the US, he came into his own as an artist. In the early 70's he was
impacted by the atrocities of the Bangladesh war and worked on a series called 'The Game',
where the imagery was composed of politicians and government dignitaries, portrayed being
assembled together and discussing war strategies positioned on the corpses of the martyred.
While driving in Delhi, a procession of 'bandwallahs' performing blocked his path. Their bright red
attire teamed with their brassy instruments caught his attention and he conceived the 'Bandwallah'
series. In this series, he pays tribute to and chronicles the individual within whom the artist dwells,
an artist in this context is not restricted to a person adorning a paintbrush but symbolises the
one who creates, the revellers, the storytellers, without whom this mortal existence would be less
colourful. With bold colours and the controlled chaos emoted by the protagonists, the Bandwallahs,
the artist convinces the viewer about the existence of the beings captured through his eyes.
In the 1980s he created works based on Biblical stories with a focus on Jesus Christ. He presented him
without divinity and focused on the catastrophes he faced in his human form. His artistic ideology is
based on his empathy towards the struggle and injustice encountered by the weak, in this way he glorifies
their endeavours.
His prominent group shows include The Biennale gatherings in Tokyo in 1957 & 1961, Sao Paulo in
1960, and Venice in 1962. The Festival of India in the then USSR 1987 & Japan 1988. He was also part of
the decision-making bodies of the Lalit Kala Akademi, National Gallery of Modern Art and Roopanker
Museum. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Krishen Khanna lives and works in Delhi.
"True art defeats time, place & people.
Art must go beyond a pretty picture."
Born in Lyallpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan), in the year 1925, Krishen Khanna moved to Shimla during the
partition. He then joined Grindlays Bank and was transferred to Mumbai. Inclined towards art, he was invited
to join the Progressive Artists Group with whom he had a short but impactful association. Krishen Khanna was
awarded the Rockefeller Fellowship in 1962 and was a resident artist at the American University in Washington
between 1963-64. He trained in the discipline of Sumi-e, a Chinese ink wash technique introduced by Zen
Buddhists. He experimented with this new learning on rice paper and created a series of abstract works.