Veer Munshi
Born in Srinagar, Kashmir, Veer Munshi earned a BA from Kashmir University, Srinagar (1976) and a BFA in Painting from the M S University, Baroda (1981).
He has addressed a range of subjects in the course of his artistic career that spans for three decades but exile remains his most fundamental condition and preoccupation. Munshi consistently used his art to reflect his anguish at the situation in his home state, his pain and struggle spilling over onto his canvas. Making a human rights statement rather than a political one, he has constantly sought to highlight the turmoil that comes with his separation from his heritage, and to highlight the increasingly narrow space that exists for culture and art in his state. He is also convinced that art, because of its universal nature, can play a significant role in the resolution of the Kashmir situation.
The artist has held 17 solo exhibitions of his work during his career, including ‘Kashmir: insider outsider’ Sakshi Gallery, Bombay (2015); ‘Shrapnel 3’, Gallery Latitude 28, New Delhi (2012); ‘Shrapnel 2’, Birla Academy of Art, Kolkata (2010 ); ‘Shrapnel’, curated by Ranjit Hoskote at BNG foundation Mumbai (2009); ‘Encounter’, Art Alive & India Habitat Centre New Delhi (2006); and shows at Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai (2004); Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (2004); Gallery Espace, New Delhi (2003); E C Galleria, Edinburgh Scotland (1997) and the United Nations, Geneva Switzerland (1996)
Munshi has participated in numerous curated and group exhibitions. These include ‘Ways of Resistance’, SAHMAT, New Delhi (2002); ‘Art on the Move’, curated by Vivan Sundaram, SAHMAT, New Delhi (2002); the 11th Asian Art Biennale, Dhaka (2004); ‘Identity Alienation Amity’, curated by Bina Sarkar, Mumbai (2005); Tehelka’s ‘Art for Freedom’, London (2008); ‘Image, Music and Text’, curated by Ram Rahman, SAHMAT, New Delhi (2009); ‘ZIP Files’, edited by Ranjit Hoskote, foundation b&g, Mumbai (2009); The Sahmat collective at Smart Museum of art, Chicago (2013); ‘Zameen’, curated by Ranjit Hoskote, Art district Gallery, New Delhi (2014); the India Art Fair, New Delhi (2017); and ‘Familiar Stranger’, A4 Centre for Contemporary Asian Art Sydney, Australia (2017).
Munshi’s art is informed by his extensive and engaged travels; he has visited, among other countries, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, and Turkey. His works are a part of private and public collections, including the Smart Museum of Art Chicago, National Gallery of Modern Art New Delhi, Australia – India Institute Museum Melbourne, Birla Academy for art and cultural Museum Kolkata; Arts Acre Foundation Kolkata, and B&G Foundation at Popular Prakashan publication, Mumbai.
The artist lives and works in Delhi / Gurgaon.
