B. Prabha

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B. Prabha
Photo of B. Prabha.jpg
Born1933 (1933)
Maharashtra, India
Died2001 (aged 67–68)
Nagpur, India
NationalityIndian
EducationSir J. J. College of Art
Known forPainting
Spouse(s)
B. Vithal
​
(m. 1956⁠–⁠1992)​

B. Prabha (1933–2001)[1] was a prolific Indian artist who primarily worked in oil. She is best known for her depictions of graceful elongated figures of pensive rural women, each dominated by a single color. By the time of her death, her work had been shown in over 50 exhibitions, and found its way into important collections, including India's National Gallery of Modern Art.[2]

Prabha started working at a time when India had few women artists. She was deeply inspired by the work of seminal modernist Amrita Shergil. Much like Shergil, the protagonists of Prabha's works were usually women. She was moved by the plight of rural women, and over time, they became the main theme of her work. In an interview with Youngbuzz India, she said "I have yet to see one happy woman."[3] Her paintings also covered a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to social issues like droughts, hunger and homelessness.[4]

She studied at the Nagpur School of Art,[1] before moving to Bombay, where she attended the Sir J. J. School of Art. It was at the Sir J. J. School of Art that she met her husband, artist and sculptor, B. Vithal.[5]

Prabha came to Bombay as a struggling artist, with little money—"Rs 2.11."[citation needed] She sold some pieces of jewelry to raise funds. She and her artist husband were aided by friends who gave them a place to stay and by others who stored their art-work.[citation needed] Her first exhibition, while she was still a student, set her on the path to success when three of her paintings were acquired by eminent Indian scientist Homi J. Bhabha.[citation needed]

Career[]

When B.Prabha was still an upcoming artist, her work was acquired by Air India. Her paintings were used on menu cards and was displayed at the Air India Booking office in London. Her work formed the basis of Air India's extensive collection of some of India's most illustrious artists, including the likes of M. F. Husain and Vasudeo S. Gaitonde.[6]

In her formative years, Prabha was interested in both music and art. Taking her brother's advice, she decided to choose art as her choice of vocation while finishing her matriculation. Her early work was modern freestyle painting. Over time she found her own signature style.[7]

Prabha’s signature style fully evolved after her marriage to fellow artist B. Vithal in 1956, when she moved from modern abstract forms to a more decorative figuration. She held her first joint exhibition with her husband the same year. It is interesting to note that B. Prabha was a practicing female artist in an age where women were unapologetically oppressed, and it is no surprise therefore that Prabha used her own position as an artist to make strong comments on the same. While her work today might seem like a simple documentation of the figures of rural women, it must be taken into account that a few decades ago these might have been odes to the spirit and the plight of these women.[8] As she famously said, "It is my aim to paint the trauma and tragedy of women."[9]

She held her first exhibition along with her husband B. Vithal in the year 1956. Over the years she held more than 50 exhibitions in India and abroad.[10]

Exhibitions[]

She held two solo shows at Delhi's Kumar Gallery in 1959 and 1961. Her exhibition "Shradhanjai" was dedicated to her late husband B.Vithal. It was held in 1993 in Mumbai. Prabha's work has also been included in the group exhibition 'Contemporary Indian Painters' at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in 1996. She was also a part of the Bombay Art Exhibition in 1958 where she was awarded the first prize.[11]

Her work has been included in exhibitions such as 'Winter Moderns" at Aicon Gallery, New York; and 'Pot Purr' at Gallery Beyond, Mumbai, both in 2008.

Awards and honors[]

  • Awarded the First Prize at the Bombay State Art Exhibition in 1958
  • Received All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Awards, New Delhi

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "A peep into artist B. Prabha's oeuvre and her inspirations". The Arts Trust Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. ^ "B. Prabha: Abstract Figure painter". Tutt'Art. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Youngbuzz India's Premier Career Guidance Company". Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  4. ^ "B Prabha". Saffronart. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. ^ "B Prabha". Saffronart. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. ^ Thomas, Maria. "The fascinating story behind Air India's priceless collection of art". Quartz India. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  7. ^ "A peep into artist B. Prabha's oeuvre and her inspirations". www.theartstrust.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  8. ^ "B Prabha". Saffronart. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  9. ^ "B. Prabha". Christie's.
  10. ^ "B. Prabha - Christies". artist.christies.com.
  11. ^ "B Prabha". Saffronart. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

External links[]

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