Jaipur, September 2025 – The Jaipur Centre of Culture and Arts (JCCA), one of India’s premier private art institutions, is proud to announce the opening of A Prelude to Wounds – Unseen Somnath Hore, an unprecedented exhibition accompanied by a book release that brings to light rare and hitherto unseen works of the legendary modernist and humanist, Somnath Hore (1921–2006).
“Somnath Hore’s art is a living protest, an inexorable human document. His lines were not bound by time or place; they speak universally of suffering and liberation,” shared Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, Curator of the exhibition.
The exhibition at JCCA showcases never-before-seen drawings and sculptures, alongside the launch of the book Unseen Somnath Hore, authored by Dr. Tarun Sharda, co-founder of JCCA.
“Every era produces a few artists whose voices transcend beauty to enter the realm of empathy. Hore was one such artist. Through this exhibition, we wish to honour not just his art, but his humanity,” said Dr. Tarun Sharda, Director, JCCA and author of the book.
Hore, remembered as one of India’s most sensitive chroniclers of human suffering, lived through the Bengal famine, the Tebhaga peasant movement, and decades of social upheaval. His drawings, prints, and sculptures distilled anguish and resilience into stark, minimalist forms that continue to resonate deeply in today’s fractured world.
Venue: Jaipur Centre of Culture and Arts (JCCA), Jaipur
Preview Date: 20th September, 2025
Time: 5 PM Onwards
Exhibition on View: 31st December, 2025
Curator’s Note
“The revolution introduced me to art, and in turn, art introduced me to the revolution.” – Albert Einstein finds a fitting echo in the life and work of Somnath Hore. His art is not mere imagery but a living protest, an enduring human document where simple, flowing lines convey anguish, compassion, and resilience. Deeply committed to humanity both in life and practice, Hore transformed wounds and suffering into universal expressions of liberation that transcend time and place. – Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya
About the Artist: Somnath Hore
Born in Chittagong in 1921, Somnath Hore’s practice was inseparable from his social conscience. A witness to famine, poverty, and political struggles, Hore transformed lived experiences into a unique visual language, marked by wounds, scars, and minimalist forms. His iconic Wounds series, paper-pulp prints, and bronze sculptures stand as testaments to his empathy and radical honesty. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1985, his works today are housed in leading institutions, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
About the Book & Author
The book is authored by Dr. Tarun Sharda, PhD (IIT Bombay) and MBA (McGill University, Canada), an acclaimed scientist, entrepreneur, and art patron. During his long professional tenure in Japan, both as a professor and research scientist, Dr. Sharda developed a deep appreciation for the delicate traditions of Japanese art. Inspired and encouraged by his wife, Monika Sharda, an accomplished artist and co-founder of JCCA, he immersed himself in the study of Indian art, past and present. This exploration led to the creation of the Jaipur Centre of Culture and Arts, envisioned as a vibrant space for modern and contemporary art.
About the Exhibition & Book
The A Prelude to Wounds – Unseen Somnath Hore exhibition presents drawings from Hore’s private diaries of the mid-1960s, revealing a deeply personal side of the artist rarely seen by the public. The collection is a haunting record of famine, memory, and resilience, presented with stark honesty.
The accompanying book Unseen Somnath Hore captures these works in a beautifully designed volume, with essays by the curator, author, and Hore’s daughter, Chandana Hore.
