This May, galleries across India are presenting a diverse array of new art exhibitions, ranging from postcolonial installations and forgotten print histories to deeply personal paintings and sculptural storytelling. Highlights include Sri Lankan artist Shanaka Kulathunga's solo show 'Silent Stories' at Bikaner House, exploring memory and displacement; the group exhibition 'In the Telling' at Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai, focusing on narrative-making and fragmented memory; and 'An Ancient Ballad' at Emami Art in Kolkata, drawing from mythology and folklore. Other notable shows include a retrospective of modernist A. A. Raiba at Thapar Gallery, the politically charged 'The Architecture Of The Void' at Gallery Dotwalk, and Navjot Altaf's 'Waste Archives as Landscape' at CSMVS museum in Mumbai.
These exhibitions matter because they reflect the vibrant and evolving contemporary art scene in India, offering viewers immersive, reflective, and politically engaged experiences. By showcasing both established and emerging artists, the shows highlight how personal archives, oral histories, and postcolonial themes are shaping current artistic conversations. The variety of venues—from historic sites like Bikaner House to major museums like CSMVS—underscores the growing accessibility and institutional support for contemporary art in the country, making this month a significant moment for both local audiences and the broader art world.