A solo show of works by Afzal Pathan, a lesser-known modernist artist from Madhya Pradesh, is underway in Delhi until July 10.
The exhibition titled Afzal Pathan: Ek Behta Dariya features more than 40 untitled paintings from the final decade of the artist’s life. Pathan, born in 1936 in Dewas and trained at the Indore School of Art, created over 5,000 abstract works using sweeping strokes with cloth or hand before his death in 2000.
Ashok Vajpeyi of the Raza Foundation, which organised the event at Shridharani Gallery, noted that Pathan remained outside the mainstream narrative of Indian modern art despite being a contemporary of Husain and Raza. Curator Akhilesh highlighted Pathan’s rapid painting method and his focus on rural motifs.
Pathan taught art to support his family and showed little interest in pursuing fame or frequent exhibitions. The show marks only his seventh solo presentation.