The exhibition 'Grammar of Seeing' at Gallerie Splash in India presents a comprehensive retrospective of artist Ratan Parimoo's work from the mid-1950s to 1980s. Curated by Satyajit Dave, the show features paintings, drawings, prints, collages, archival photographs, letters, and personal writings, tracing Parimoo's evolution from a young student painting Kashmir's landscapes to an artist developing his own abstract language. It includes a section on his years at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and archival material related to the Baroda Group of Artists, many displayed publicly for the first time.
The exhibition matters because it fills an important gap in Indian art history, bringing long-overdue recognition to Parimoo's contributions as both a painter and art historian. At 90, Parimoo notes the show compensates for having not received his proper due over the years. By highlighting his consistent way of seeing and his persistence with his medium, the retrospective offers fresh insights into the development of modern Indian art and underscores the value of artistic perseverance.