Ambadas

1922

Ambadas Khobragade is born in Akola, Maharashtra, and grows up close to Mahatma Gandhi’s extended family. He later drops his surname, Khobragade. Given his subaltern origins and a childhood deeply influenced by Gandhian ideals, he rejects materialism, seeks spiritualism, and shuns ornamentation in his artistic practice.

1947-52

Studies for his diploma in painting from Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay, along with classmates Tyeb Mehta, Akbar Padamsee, and Mohan Samant.

1951

Exhibition organised by Group Non-Representational, formed by Ambadas, Homi Patel, Apollinaire de Souza, and S. G. Nikam. They exhibit together again the following year.

1952-55

Works at Vikram Toy Factory, Bombay.

1955-59

Travels extensively around India, but spends most of this time in Assam and Manipur, and goes to Burma, before returning to settle in Bombay as a painter.

1956

Is awarded a gold medal at the annual exhibition of the Bombay Art Society.

1959-69

Is employed by the Weavers’ Service Centre in Madras, and, later, New Delhi and Bombay.

1960

Is part of ‘12 Painters’ exhibition, New Delhi.

1962

Is a founder-member of a coalition of twelve artists led by J. Swaminathan called Group 1890. Has his first solo exhibition at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

1963

Is part of Group 1890’s only exhibition in New Delhi. It is inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the presence of Mexican poet Octavio Paz. Receives a national award from Lalit Kala Akademi for his work, Hot Wind Blows Inside Me.

1964

Is part of ‘Art Now in India’ exhibition in Newcastle, England, and Ghent, Belgium.

1965

Has a solo exhibition at Kunika Chemould Gallery, New Delhi (and again in 1970). Takes part in the Tokyo Biennale, Japan.

1966

Participates in Lalit Kala Akademi’s national exhibition.

1966-68

Is a guest artist of the Government of West Germany.

1967

Travels to Baroda to meet with artists and explore the possibility of reviving Group 1890. Takes part in the Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil. Is part of the exhibition, ‘25 Years of Art in Bombay’, organised by Chemould Gallery, Bombay. Has an exhibition at Delhi Silpi Chakra, New Delhi. Participates in group show ‘Contemporary Art in India and Iran’, sponsored by the Ben and Abby Grey Foundation. Identifying his work as ‘abstract expressionism’, American curator and art historian Clement Greenberg arranges for Ambadas to tour America’s art centres for three months and interact with major abstractionists of the country.

1968

Is part of the exhibition, ‘Five Contemporaries’, in New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Exhibits at Chemould Gallery, Bombay.

1970

Has exhibitions in Tehran, Iran, and Zurich, Switzerland.

1970-72

Travels to U.S.A. and Germany on a scholarship from the Indian government before settling in Norway, Europe. His marriage to Hege Backe is the reason he settles in Norway.

1973

Has a solo exhibition at Gallery Art in Zurich, and at Surya Gallerie in Freinsheim, Germany.

1974

Has a solo show in Henning Larsens Kunsthandel, Copenhagen, Denmark.

1975

Has a solo exhibition at Kunstnerforbundet Gallery, Oslo, Norway.

1976

Takes part in the Menton Biennale, France. The same year, he has exhibitions at Chemould Gallery, Bombay (and again in 1981, 1985, 1987, 1998), and at Dhoominal Gallery, New Delhi (and again in 1985, 1987, 2001).

1977, '79

Solo exhibition at Gallery Alana, Oslo.

1986

Is invited to be a jury member of the Bharat Bhavan Biennale, Bhopal.

1988

Has a major solo exhibition during the Festival of India, Japan, organised at Takaoka Municipal Museum of Art and Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo. Solo exhibition at Modum Kunstforening, Vikersund, Norway.

1989

Solo exhibition at Gallery Nicolai, Bergen, Norway.

1990-91

Is artist-in-residence at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. Many of his works are part of the collection of Bharat Bhavan’s Roopankar Museum.

1991

Exhibits at Art Heritage, New Delhi.

1992

Solo exhibition at Pundole Art Gallery, Bombay.

1993

Solo exhibition at Gallery L.M.N., Oslo.

1994

Solo exhibitions at Vadehra Art Gallery and Gallery Espace, both in New Delhi.

1996

Is part of the National Exhibition in Oslo.

1997

Solo exhibition at United Art Gallery, California State University, Stanislaus, U.S.A.

1999

Solo exhibition at Asker Kunstforening, Asker, Norway.

2001

Solo exhibition at Gallery Dobloug, Oslo.

2001-2006

Exhibitions at Gallery Art Motif, New Delhi.

2008

A retrospective, ‘Ambadas: Sublime Encounters / (1965-2005)’ is organised at DAG, New Delhi. Is part of Lalit Kala Akademi’s group exhibition ‘Moderns’ organised by the Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan, in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Jordan.

2008-2009

Is part of Lalit Kala Akademi’s group show ‘Paz Mandala’ in New Delhi.

2010

Is part of Lalit Kala Akademi’s exhibition, ‘Masters of Maharashtra’, at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai.

2011

Is part of group show ‘Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980)’ organised by Indigo Blue Art, Singapore.

2012

Dies at the age of ninety in Oslo, Norway.