LOBHI RAMDAS SHANKAR

“I love capturing rural landscapes and the people within them in their stark reality and culture.“

Born in 1987, I began my journey from a small village in Beed, Maharashtra. Coming from a humble farming family, I stepped out of my cocoon to complete a Diploma in Fine Art from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune in 2012.

To date, I have held several solo exhibitions in Mumbai, Pune, and even one in Singapore. My most recent show was at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, earlier this year. In a relatively short span of time, I have received appreciation for my art from esteemed collectors in India, Singapore, Australia, and the UK — including Mr. T.K. Qwek, a member of the Acquisition Committee of the National Gallery of Singapore.

Having spent my entire childhood in the rural parts of India, I have witnessed firsthand the rapid transformation brought about by modernization. This change has deeply influenced my work.

I love capturing rural landscapes and the people within them in their stark reality and culture. I believe that the simple yet profound beauty of villages may not last forever. I have personally seen many native birds disappear from our surroundings due to modernization. Through my art, I try to preserve what I feel may soon vanish. I believe this ability is the greatest gift that art has given me.