Veer Munshi / Curator: Ranjit Hoskote, Nancy Adajania
About the Book
The Dialogues Series explores the converns, careers and contexts of some of India’s most acclaimed artists. Each book in the series takes the form of an extended conversation between an individual artist and the authors, Ranjit Hoskote and Nancy Adajania, two of India’s best known and most authoritative critics. The Dialogues Series provies sharply etched portraits of the artists and critically engaged accounts of their work. It sees each artist’s journey in review, with its distinctive transitions, breakthroughs and evolutionary rhythms. The Dialogues Series also situates the imagination and lifeworld of the artists within larger art-historical genealogies, cultural narratives and political discussions, both Indian and global. The Series aims to create a discursive space in which both enthusuasts and scholars can reflect on the arguments that art and criticism conduct with history. The series is founded on the belief that the history of art does not simply revolve around the personalities of individual artists or the trends of the day; it also records the vital historical and pholosophical questions that are posed and played out on the contested terrain of art.
About the Author
VEER MUNSHI (born 1955) earned a BA from Kashmir University, Srinagar (1975) and a BFA in Painting from the M. S. University, Baroda (1981). He has held 14 solo exhibitions during the last 16 years with, among others. Art Heritage (New Delhi, 1992); Gallery Burswood (Perth, 1996); E. C. Galleria (Edinburgh, 1997); Gallery Espace (New Delhi, 2003); Tao Art Gallery (Mumbai, 2004); Art Alive (India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 2006); AIFACS Gallery (New Delhi, 1995); Jehangir Art Gallery (Mumbai. 1995 and 2004); and at the United Nations (Geneva, 1996). Munshi’s most recent solo exhibition, ‘Shrapnel’, was curated by Ranjit Hoskote and pro-duced by foundation b & g (Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai and the Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, 2009-2010).
Munshi has participated in numerous curated and group exhibitions. Among these are ‘A Gift for Gandhi’ (SAHMAT, New Delhi and Mumbai/1995); ‘Ways of Resistance’ (SAHMAT. New Delhi/2002); ‘Art on the Move’, curated by Vivan Sundaram (SAHMAT, New Delhi/2002); the 11th Asian Art Biennale (Dhaka/2004): ‘Identity Alienation Amity’, curated by Bina Sarkar (Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai/2005); Tehelka’s ‘Art for Freedom’ (London/2008); the World Social Forum, Karachi/2006; the India Art Summit, New Delhi/2008; ‘Image, Music and Text’, curated by Ram Rahman (SAHMAT, New Delhi/2009); and ‘ZIP Files’, edited by Ranjit Hoskote (foundation b & g, Mumbai and New Delhi/2009). Munshi’s art is informed by his extensive and engaged travels as artist, cultural organiser and cultural activist. He has visited Cambodia, China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, B&G, 2009). Penguin published Parekh’s book, Banaras: Painting the Sacred City, in 2005; and Mapin/ Lund Humphries published a collection of essays on his work. Manu Parekh: Banaras, Eternity Watches Time, in 2007. In 1992, the Government of India honoured Parekh with the Padma Shri.
