Wildlife and nature has been a perennial theme of exploration by visual artists of India. Some of the most respected modern artists of India such as M F Husain, K H Ara, K K Hebbar among others often created grand works dedicated to the imagery of wild animals. On the other hand, the contemporary artists of India are not merely depicting the wildlife but are also commenting and critiquing on their relationship with mankind through the medium of their art practices. For some these are portrayals of childhood memories, while others are delving into the eroding effects the modern world and rapid urbanisation has on wildlife. With use of unique mediums and an experimental approach, these artists bring an idiosyncratic perspective to the world around us. Here are some works from modern and contemporary Indian art that celebrates the wonders of wildlife.

Untitled, K.H. ARA, Watercolour and pastel on paper

In this work, revered modern artist K H Ara explores momentum by depicting three galloping horses in a beautiful meadow. The dominant horse in the centre is seen jumping across a small waterbody. Reminiscent of the wide green pastures of the Indian mountainside, the painting captures the joy and liberation of animals amidst the beauty of nature. The untitled painting was executed in circa 1970.

JAGANNATH PANDA, Untitled, 2019

The works of Jagannath Panda are deceptively simple in nature, with minimal forms and lines, creating an illusion of buoyancy of his subject into nothingness. His oeuvre manifests a conflict between cognition and belief. Engaging with diverse themes, concerns and emotions like the human and natural worlds, death and desire, social and economic inequalities, issues of urbanization and dislocation, and shifts in cultural and religious paradigms, he asserts contradictory elements highlighting the cracks in our understanding of these elements.

This work comes from M F Husain’s renowned "Raj Series". An untitled work that depicts a British woman enjoying tea next to a tiger which one may assume could only be heavily sedated or perhaps dead to induce docility.

SENAKA SENANAYAKE, Macaws In The Enchanted Forest, Acrylic on canvas, 2019, 36 x 54 in.

Senaka Senanayake is among Sri Lanka’s most important living artists. Senaka’s works are mostly inspired by the lush landscape of his home country. His colourful and vibrant canvasses often portray the beauty of Sri Lankan rainforests with brilliantly coloured scenes of lush, overlapping jungle fauna and vegetation.

Employing a restrained palette of yellows and blues, artist K K Hebbar portrays India’s national bird Peacock. The bird, with a halo golden sunlight, is perched on a wall with its beautiful tail ready to unfurl. Peacock was a leitmotif in works of artists K K Hebbar. This work was executed in the year 1987.

One look at Ranbir Singh Kaleka’s oeuvre, one can easily gauge the influences of themes of animals and tradition. His works are almost surrealist in their depiction of scenes with the protagonist which include objects and/or figures often placed in very confounding and daunting scenarios. The above executed on canvas carry the essence of the artist’s signature style.

This bronze sculpture titled ‘Rooster’ by Meera Mukherjee. The artist found her inspiration in folk traditions like Dhokra metal casting which she implemented in her works with a distinctly modern style. This particular work showcases the underlying playfulness of her artistic practice. The sculpture was published in the book ‘Meera Mukherjee: Purity of vision’, a publication which pays tribute to the singular genius of the artist.

The proximity to nature has always been an inspiration for sculpture artist Lakshman Rao Kotturu. Brought up in the scenic coastal city of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, he spent his childhood amidst the lush beautiful rivers, beaches and forests. The manner in which these natural themes convey his thoughts is helmed with an organic and raw approach to grasp and portray nature in its glory.

Sakti Burman’s work always evokes a look of weathered fresco and this painting from 1980 titled ‘La Messenger’ is no different. He is known for creating a dreamscape through his works by using the marbling effect which entails the blending of oil and acrylic paint. The work depicts an owl ,which is usually associated with wisdom, along with an architectural perspective in the background.

This work is by artist Jagannath Mohapatra who is known for his nature based paintings. Jagannath Mohapatra, born in 1969 at Bhadrak, Orissa, completed his B.F.A. in 1999 from Kala Bhavana,Santiniketan, Visva Bharati, and M.F.A (2001) from M.S University, Baroda. He has done his B.A. (History) from Utkal University, and has also studied music. In a short span of time, the artist has risen to prominence and stature, which reflects in his string solos and group show participations across leading art galleries.