When a senior artist with a multidecade career under his belt, has a sweeping retrospective show dedicated to his work, everyone sits up and takes notice. And when it happens in a city being touted as the Indian art destination to watch out for, the interest and attention is doubled. This is why veteran artist Satish Gupta’s latest show titled ‘A Haiku of a Still Mind: Continuum· Consciousness · Coherence’ presented by Devin Gawarvala at Bespoke Art Gallery, Ahmedabad is doing so well.
In keeping with Gupta’s intricately detailed practice, this exhibition offers a quiet and reflective look into his world. As Gawarvala, curator and founder of Bespoke Art Gallery, puts it, “It’s a space where stillness becomes an active state, repetition turns into rhythm, and art is experienced as a lived and felt presence rather than as spectacle.”
Gupta has a demonstrated history of thoughtful engagement with his artistic process and choice of innovative materiality. This exhibition depicts his artistic practice as an ongoing story, representing different phases and influences. “The title ‘Haiku of a Still Mind’ refers to a way of working, not to poetry. Like a haiku, Gupta’s work is shaped through reduction and concentration. What appears simple is the result of long preparation and repeated effort. In his practice, repetition becomes a mindful act – each return sharpening attention and slowly removing what is unnecessary. This repetition works like a chant, gathering and releasing energy. Stillness here is not inactivity, but a calm and balanced state that shapes his visual language. Gupta’s work avoids spectacle. Moving between abstraction and figuration, it values precision and thoughtfulness across materials such as paint, ink, copper, gold, and text, and across different scales. Certain forms return again and again, each time with subtle change. His work moves from the intimacy of the human body to the vastness of the cosmos, suggesting a continuity where the smallest mark and the largest idea share the same field of attention,” explains Gawarvala.
The focus of the work is on the cyclical nature of creation, which by its nature implies transformation and renewal. In this effort, he employs different materials, scales, and ideas. Gawarvala adds, “Surfaces hold the memory of time, patina shows duration, and empty spaces are carefully shaped rather than left blank. Viewers encounter the works first through the senses and the body, before understanding them intellectually. Perception comes before interpretation.”
On display are paintings of nature, sculptures with kinetic elements like a massive rotating egg, an oscillating deity placed within a still sculpture, and an upright mandala with hundreds of mini-Buddhas which creates a play of light and shadow as it gently sways. There are also still sculptures of Lord Buddha and his Dhamma inscriptions on bamboo shoots in a zen garden. Some unique pieces even combine painting with sculpture where solid gold deities are fused onto richly painted canvases.
Gupta straddles many roles. He is a painter, sculptor, poet, writer, calligrapher, draftsman, muralist and designer. However, all his work bears the message of spirituality and a zen spirit – whether it’s his monumental metal sculptures or his murals displayed across museums, hotels, airports and ashrams around the world.
Gupta is a recipient of the prestigious Sanskriti Award, with his art being showcased in over 40 solo exhibitions in prominent galleries across India and abroad. Gupta’s paintings and sculptures are part of prestigious collections like that of The Museum of Sacred Arts, and The National Gallery of Modern Art. They have been exhibited at the Shanghai Museum of Modern Art, and The National Museum of Slovenia. ‘Meditations on a Mandala’, his sculpture in copper, was displayed at Art Laguna Prize, Arsenal, and at the India Art Fair in 2023.
Bespoke Art Gallery – the venue for this retrospective – also has an interesting story behind it. Located in Sindhubhavan-Ambli Road, this gallery marries global art ideas with local cultural engagement. According to Gawarvala, “The gallery focuses on artistic practices that go beyond surface beauty and encourage deeper thinking and personal experience. Through carefully planned exhibitions, Bespoke seeks to create a calm and thoughtful space where visitors can reflect and connect meaningfully with the best of contemporary art.”
Since opening in 2023, the gallery has worked with numerous internationally known and established Indian artists. It promotes cross-cultural exchange and dialogue through connections across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Gawarvala, who has a sizeable personal collection of global art, was introduced to art through his father, who visited artist studios and galleries across the UK, Spain, Australia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, when he was in these countries for business.
When speaking about Satish Gupta and the ongoing retrospective, Gawarvala lights up. He shares, “Drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Indian civilization, Gupta’s works exude positivity and hope, stemming from inner peace and tranquillity. He seamlessly blends spirituality, nature and ancient Indian traditions into his diverse creations. He is celebrated for his deep philosophical insights and meticulous craftsmanship. His art goes beyond aesthetics, touching the core of human experience and inviting viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and enlightenment.”
Satish Gupta: A Haiku of a Still Mind: Continuum · Consciousness · Coherence is on view till March 30, 2026 at Bespoke Art Gallery, Sindhu Bhavan–Ambli Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat from 11 Am to 7 pm.
Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com
