Art is not just something to view, but something to feel and question, affirms Ruchi Sharma of Kalakriti Art Gallery
In this three-part photo essay series, we showcase a range of artworks from one of Hyderabad’s premier art galleries.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 885 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
Kalakriti Art Gallery in Hyderabad has an extensive collection of art and regularly hosts exhibitions on contemporary art (see our coverage of earlier shows at Kalakriti here). It recently hosted two exhibitions titled Windows to the Gods and Echoes Within, featuring the works of 15 artists.
“For the exhibition Echoes Within, each artist was chosen for their ability to articulate the unseen—those inner murmurs that often go unspoken,” curator Ruchi Sharma tells YourStory.
The artworks were curated to create a cohesive yet layered dialogue. “Individual expressions came together to build a collective emotional terrain,” she adds.
“It was important that every piece not only stood strong on its own, but also contributed meaningfully to the exhibition’s overarching narrative of introspection and resonance. This interplay of perspectives is what gave Echoes Within its unique pulse and relevance,” Sharma says.
The works of Andhra Pradesh artist Giridhara Gowd and Hyderabad-based Maharashtrian artist Sachin Jaltare are featured in the third edition of the exhibition titled Windows to the Gods. Their artworks showcase the visual language rooted in Indian tradition and philosophy, art critic Ashrafi Bhagat describes.
“The discerning keen sensibility of Gowd in delving into myths clarifies his predilection towards narrative, thus retrospecting to tradition to keep alive the sap of philosophy nestling within our culture,” Bhagat describes.
Some of Gowd’s work shows the different stages of human growth from youth to maturity and old age. They reveal the astute observation that are embedded in his art, Bhagat adds.
“Nature finds an important space, and Gowd has taken delight in representing different species of trees, flowers, rocks, animals and birds as well as the rippling water and the clouds both as threatening rain clouds and the soft blue ones,” Bhagat describes.
In some of Gowd’s other artworks, small figurines of men, animals and hybrid creatures are painted on the body of the divine. His approach also allows for subtle lacing of humour.
“This is evident in the naughty playfulness of the monkeys in their acrobatic postures, their facial expressions resonating to human emotions of sadness, contemplation, anxiety, triumph and happiness,” Bhagat explains.
As a lover of nature, Sachin Jaltare has travelled extensively and spent time immersed in nature. Bhagat observes that Jaltare embodies the feminine principle in his artworks via his use of flora and fauna, such as saplings, leaves, tree, water, moon, bells, rocks, and pebble houses.
“The varied dimensions of choreographing light, lines, textures and space lie at the heart of his works. The seen and the unseen, the heard and the unheard, quietude and chatter, are the inherent duality of energies manifesting his compositions,” Bhagat adds.
Such exhibitions at Kalakriti Art Gallery are the result of extensive engagements with the artistic community. “We are currently collaborating with a range of curators, artist-led initiatives, and cross-disciplinary practitioners to shape our upcoming exhibitions,” curator Sharma explains.
These partnerships aim to introduce fresh perspectives and foster experimentation. “They are intended to engage wider audiences through innovative, thought-provoking presentations,” she adds.
One of the recent trends in the world of art is the rise of GenAI. “We view GenAI not as a threat, but as a powerful opportunity—one that challenges traditional boundaries and invites artists to reimagine their tools and processes,” Sharma affirms.
“It raises important questions around authorship and originality. But GenAI also opens up new avenues for creativity, collaboration and storytelling,” she adds.
She is exploring curatorial possibilities that engage with digital and AI-influenced art—particularly practices that use these technologies critically and poetically. “Rather than separating the digital from the traditional, we are interested in how they can coexist and push the conversation forward,” she emphasises.
“As the world changes, art remains essential—offering reflection, connection, and clarity. It helps us make sense of our times and imagine new possibilities,” she adds.
“We invite audiences to engage with art as a living dialogue. Art is not just something to view, but something to feel and question,” Sharma signs off.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Kalakriti Art Gallery in Hyderabad.)