Dear Friends, Greetings! I am happy to bring to you our annual show ‘Devotion’ now eleventh in the series in our gallery space at Lado Sarai. The multiple layered collections of these new creations by the artists in this exhibition are besieged with metaphorical/ allegorical symbols, brimful with devotion in its varied manifestations. Religious and spiritual leaders, ordinary mortals, objects and natural elements, ideas and aspirations, figure in the spread here of different oeuvres, forms and media – each focusing on devotion from a different perspective and in a contemporary context. The show has been in the making for the past one year and I feel fortunate to have such an eminent group of artists contribute to make it so beautifully absorbing. Gallery Art Positive as a unit of Bajaj Capital Art House with its in-house expertise in wealth management for nearly 50 years is acknowledged for its focus on seminal exhibitions including work by younger and established artists. It has successfully expanded its services, to include other art initiatives g and specialized and personalized art advisory services. We present special shows, online exhibitions, master classes, art education initiatives as well as advice on buying, selection, display, insurance, handling, care and conservation of art. It has been a pleasure working with such a special group of artists and I am thankful to all of them for their imaginative and ingenious devotion and contribution. The works in the show are indeed a collector’s delight, which I am happy to share with you through this exhibition and the accompanying catalogue. I hope you will enjoy this holistic collection on a theme that has consistently engaged our endeavors. Cheers Anu Bajaj.

Devotion possibly the most rudimentary human emotion, since the origin of civilization.It involves absolute faith, trust, admiration and a single minded pursuit for the subject of one’s dedication in which ever form or shape. It has been an incessant source of motivation for writers, performers and artists of all class and societies. It has also been the spirit behind diverse cults and movements around the world. Devotion in multicultural Indian society, a land full of contradictions and numerous religions, is perceived as an abstract and metaphysical thought, essentially secular and spiritual. From early morning at day break to twilight at sunset, from birth to death, each day and activity is linked to people’s beliefs, their devotion and consciousness. The belief in the doctrine of Karma and the Cycle of life gets reflected in an eclectic mix of styles that re-write and re-present mythology and spirituality in varied genres of arts. The complex cultural and philosophical systems, myths and legends of India are not stories of the past but experiences that are lived and relived by each successive generation which turn into a root/source for artistic and cultural expressions as in the case of art included in this exhibition. The multiple layered collections of these new creations by the artists in this exhibition are besieged with metaphorical/ allegorical symbols, brimful with devotion in its varied manifestations. Religious and spiritual leaders, ordinary mortals, objects and natural elements, ideas and aspirations, figure in the spread here of different oeuvres, forms and media – each focusing on devotion from a different perspective and in a contemporary context. The resonance of adulation, faith and commitment appears not just in terms of religious or Godly devotion but also human love, care for the environment, concern for self and society, to exude a complete dedication in some cases and or a biggie.