Sohini Dhar

RESUME

SOHINI DHAR

WORK EXPERIENCE

PROFESSOR – HISTORY OF ART DEPARTMENT (2003 – 2023) DEAN – FACULTY OF VISUAL ARTS (2003 – 2006)
READER – HISTORY OF ART DEPARTMENT (1995 – 2002) Faculty of Visual Arts, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata

LECTURER – HISTORY OF ART (1994 – 1995)
Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan

ART TEACHER (1993 – 1994)
Sree Shikshayatan College, Kolkata

EDUCATION

▪ Ph.D.Awardedin1992,fromVisva BharatiUniversity

o Theme ‘Landscape as Expression in Indian Traditional Painting’

o Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jayanta Chakraborty st

▪ Master of Fine Arts (MFA); 1 Class; 1983-1985, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan st

▪ Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA); 1 Class; 1978-1983, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan st

▪ School Leaving Certificate; 1 Division; 1978, Patha Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan SCHOLARSHIPS / AWARDS

▪ University Merit Scholarships at BFA & MFA levels, (1978-1985) Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan ▪ U.G.C. National Educational Talent (NET) Fellowship for Ph.D., 1986-1991
▪ Awarded, ‘Outstanding Young Person of Kolkata (Fine Arts) 2002’, Junior Chamber of Commerce

HONOURS & PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT

▪  Invited to deliver a talk on‘EXPRESSIONS OF LANDSCAPE IN INDIAN ART: ITS VARIANTS’ at Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, November, 2017
▪  Invited to deliver a talk on‘ABANINDRANATH TAGORE AND HIS DISCIPLES’ at Rabindra Bharati Museum, Jorasanko, Kolkata, August, 2017
▪  Invited to participate in the joint exhibition,‘PAINTED PARALLELS’ along with Sudeshna Sengupta at LasCruses, New Mexico, USA, July 2016

▪  Invited to participate in ‘ASIA:TALK TO ASIA’ a Six-Nation South Pacific show at Jeju,SouthKorea,2015
 

▪  Invited to conduct a Workshop at ‘PROKRITEE’ (Fair Trade Organization), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2012

▪  Invited as a delegate to the SOUTH PACIFIC CRAFTS COUNCIL MEET at Daegu,South Korea,November2011

▪  Invited to participate as a member of the SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL: ‘AUTHENTIC VOICES; EASTERN ROUTES’, Edinburgh, October, 2010

▪  Invited as a participating artist for the SSA, 109th Annual Exhibition at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, along with a paper presentation on INDIAN ART AND WORKSHOP, June, 2006
▪  Featured in the Home Décor series ‘HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS’published in INSIDE OUTSIDE magazine, Feb,2003

▪  Edited & compiled ‘RURAL TERRACOTTAS OF EASTERN INDIA’ for Crafts Council of India,1991-92

▪  Studied & researched the miniature collections at the Centres of Bharat Kala Bhavan, Benaras; American Institute, Ramnagar; National Museum, New Delhi; City Palace Museum, Jaipur; Sangram Singh Collection, Jaipur; Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai; State Museum, Baroda; Indian Museum, Kolkata.

▪  Worked on a Project ‘EXISTING MINIATURE PAINTING TRADITIONS IN THE CENTRES OF RAJASTHAN’; Jaipur, Kishangarh, Bhilwara, Udaipur & Nathadwara.

Obtained guidance in painting from PROF.K.G SUBRAMANYAN, (EmeritusProfessor)Visva Bharati, Santiniketan

LECTURES AT ART APPRECIATION COURSE
▪  The UNESCO supported Advanced Course on ‘INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING FOR HUMAN UNITY’, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2006-present
▪  Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2002-2019
▪  Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, 2009, 2012-2016
▪  Charukala Parshad, Kolkata, 1998-2007, 2014, 2016, 2018-2019

PARTICIPATION AS RESOURCE PERSON
▪  Art Reviewer for weekly art column in Anandabazar Patrika since 2022
▪  Selection Committee Member, Kanpur IIT, 2021
▪  Selection Committee Member, (For Lecturer, Reader & Professor Post), Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata 1996-2023
▪  Jury Committee Member, 43rd Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, 2009
▪  Presentationofpaperforthe‘BHUNATHMEMORIALLECTURE’,organisedbyInstituteofHistoricalStudies,Kolkata,Sep2008
▪  Selection Committee Member, Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, 2008
▪  Jury Committee Member, 4th NESEA Exhibition, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati, 2007
▪  Moderator and Paper-setter for Visva Bharati University, Assam University, Govt. College of Art & Craft, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, Tripura University, Agartala
▪  Selection Committee Member, Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, 2007
▪ Selection Committee Member, Indian College of Art & Draftsmanship, Calcutta, 2006
▪ Jury Committee Member, Camlin Awards (Eastern Region), 2005
▪ Selection Committee Member, Assam University, 2004, 2008
▪ Interviewedfora30minT.V.programme,‘TaraSundari’,onTaraBanglaChannel,23Feb,2002
▪ AnchoredaT.V.programme‘Parampara’onRamanandaBandopadhyay&AdipDuttaforATNChannel,28May,2001 ▪ Member of the Editing Committee for the catalogue, ‘Prabaha’ for Charukala Utsav, Kolkata, 1999

▪ Board of Studies Member, Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata
▪ Selection Committee Member, Sree Shikshayatan College, Kolkata

PAPERS: PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

▪  Write-up on “SHOKIN KATSUTA”, published in Masterpieces of Modern Indian Art, DAG Publication,New Delhi,2023
▪  ‘RABINDRANATH TAGORE: THE VIVIFIED VISION OF NATURE IN ART’, published online by the Scottish Centre of Tagore Studies, 2020
▪  ‘BRIDGING THE SOUL: THE NOTIONS OF SPIRITUALITY I N INDIAN PAINTING: 1905-2005’, National Seminar to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata 15th November, 2013(paper presented and published)
▪  ‘ART AS THE PROMOTER OF HUMAN UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING’, edited by Prof. Radharaman Chakrabarti, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2013 (paper presented and published)
▪  ‘THERAJPUTMINIATURES:ABRIEFNOTE’,AppreciationofIndianArt:SelectedWritings,Vol-1, TheRamakrishnaMission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2011
▪  Catalogue write-up on HAREN DAS, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka, 2011
▪  ‘SHILPACHARYA ABANINDRANATH TAGORE AND HIS DISCIPLES’–article in Historical Development of Contemporary Indian Art: 1880-1947, Edited by Ratan Parimoo & Sandip Sarkar, Published by Lalit Kala Akademi, 2009
▪  ‘AN INTERVIEW OF SRI GANESH HALOI’, Charukala, Vol IV, Published by Rajya Charukala Parshad, Kolkata,2009
▪  Catalouge write-up for the International Students Show, Sponsored by ICCR, Kolkata, 2008
▪  Book Review of LALU PRASAD SHAW'S ‘MYRIAD MINDED ARTIST’, India Today (Bengali), 2008
▪  ‘VISUAL ARTS: WOMEN & BENGAL’,Corpus Research Centre Workshop, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 2008
▪  Catalogue write-up for SRI SUBADRAGE NUWAN NALAKA for his first solo show at Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2007
▪  Interview of & write-up on K.G. SUBRAMANYAN, India Today(BengaliEdition),2007
▪  Panel discussion with Sri Samik Bandopadhay & Smt Bani Basu on ‘20TH CENTURY AND URBANIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF ART’, Sree Shikshayatan College, Kolkata, 2007
▪  Presented a paper on ‘ART AS THE PROMOTER OF HUMAN UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING’ at the UNESCO project undertaken by Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2006-2023
▪  ‘COMMUNING WITH NATURE IN ART’ Nandan, vol: XXIV, 2004, Visva Bharati publication
▪  ‘MANIFESTATIONS’ nos. I, II, III: Articles on Haren Das, Ganesh Haloi, Partha Pratim Deb, Paritosh Sen, Bikash Bhattacharya, Dharmanarayan Dasgupta – DAG Collections, New Delhi, 2003, 2004,2005
▪  ‘CHILDREN, CREATIVITY AND CALCUTTA’, Rabindra Bharati University Seminar, March, 2003
▪  ‘APPROACH TO LANDSCAPE IN INDIAN CONTEMPORARY PAINTING’, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2003
▪  ‘RASA IN INDIAN ART’, Seminar at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2002
▪  ‘SHILPO SHIKSHA’R PRATIBANDHAKATAO PRATIKAR’, Seminar at Calcutta Information Centre, 2002
▪  Editorial, Vichitra, Vol – II, Rabindra Bharati University, 2001
▪  ‘BHARATIYA BHASKARJER KRAMABIBARTANO DEVI PROSAD ROY CHOUDHURY’ Rabindra Bharati University Patrika, 2000 (in Bengali)
▪  ‘SANSAR SEEMAR SUDURE, DIRGHA RATRIR KOLE’, Charukala, Vol-II, published by Rajya Charukala Parshad, Kolkata, 2000 (in Bengali)

▪  ‘RABINDRANATH TAGORE: THE PICTORIAL SOJOURNS TO NATURE’, Vichitra, Vol:I, Rabindra Bharati University, 1999
▪  ‘RE-READING OF INDIAN ART: PRESENT & FUTURE’ Seminar, organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, Kolkata, 1996
▪  ‘THE APPEAL OF NATURE’, Art Heritage, New Delhi 1994
▪  ‘THE BLUE CANOPY OF EARTH’, Nandan, Visva Bharati publication, December, 1990
▪  ‘MINIATURE LANDSCAPES’, India Magazine, October, 1990
▪  ‘MONTH OF ART’, Alliance Française du Bengale,1990

SEMINARS: PARTICIPATION / ORGANISATION Participated

▪ ‘CONCEPT OF SPIRITUALITY IN ART: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE’, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2013 

▪ ‘ART AND AESTHETICS’, Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, 2003
▪ ‘CONSTRUCTION OF ART HISTORY SYLLABUS’, National Museum, New Delhi, 1997
▪ ‘ART OF ORISSA’, Bhubaneswar, 1989
▪ ‘INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON AJANTA’, M.S. University, Baroda,1988 

▪ ‘PANORAMAOFBENGALPAINTING’,IndianMuseumKolkata,1987

Organised

▪  ‘ART PRACTICES AND A SENSE OF HISTORY’, Faculty Seminar, jointly organized by Prof Sohini Dhar & Sri Adip Dutta, February, 2020
▪  ‘THE TEXTILE TRADITION OF INDIA’, Faculty Seminar, jointly organized by Prof Sohini Dhar & Dr Paula Sengupta, Rabindra Bharati University, 2013
▪  ‘THE ROLE OF RAMKINKAR BAIZIN MODERN INDIAN ART’, Centenary Seminar, Rabindra Bharati University, 2006
▪  Organized the felicitation programme of SHRI H.K. KEJRIWAL at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, 2005
▪  ‘BENODE BEHARI MUKHERJEE CENTENARY SEMINAR’ Rabindra Bharati University, 2005
▪  ‘BENGAL SCHOOL OF ART’, conducted by Partha Mitter, at British Council, Kolkata,1999
▪  ‘MYTH&NARRATIONININDIANCONTEMPORARYART’,RabindraBharatiUniversity,1999
▪  Organised the felicitation programme for SRI PARITOSH SEN & SRI PRASANTA DAWN, Rabindra Bharati University,1999
▪  ‘TRENDS IN MODERN INDIAN ART: PRESENT AND FUTURE’, Rabindra Bharati University,1997
▪  ‘SIGNIFICANCE OF FOLK ART IN THE CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART SCENE’, Rabindra Bharati University,1996
▪  ‘RE-EVALUATION OF ART EDUCATION’, Rabindra Bharati University,1995

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2021 Ganges Art Gallery (Online Show), Kolkata 

2018 Art World, Chennai
2008 Mahua Art Gallery, Bengaluru
2007 Gallery Kanishka, Kolkata

2006 Mahua Art Gallery, Bengaluru

MAJOR GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2018 Annual Show, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata 

2018 Annual Teachers’ Show, Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow 

2018 Group Show, Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata
2017 Group Show, ‘Parama’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata

2017 Group Show, ‘Independence’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata 

2016 Joint show with Sudeshna Sengupta, Las Cruces, USA 

2016 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, ICCR, Kolkata 

2016 Group Show, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata

2015 Women Artists Show, Maya Art Gallery, Kolkata
2014 Group Show, Emami Chisel, Kolkata
2014 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Jaipur
2013 Group Show, ‘Parama’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2013 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Gallery Ganges, Kolkata 

2013 Group show, EMAMI Chisel, Kolkata

2012 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Dhaka
2012 Group Show at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata 

2012 ‘Concern India Foundation’ Shows at Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata 

2011 ‘Parama’, Group Show, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2010 Annual Show, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
2010 ‘Parama’, Group Show, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2009 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, Annual Group Show, Gallery Art Motif, New Delhi 

2008 Gallery Sanskriti Group 18 years, Group Show, Kolkata
2008 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
2008 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Time & Space, Bengaluru 

2008 ‘Neel’, Weaver’s Studio, Kolkata
2008 ‘Pastels’, Art Motif, New Delhi
2007 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata 

2007 ‘Beyond Boundaries’, Mahua Gallery, Mumbai, Bengaluru
2007 ‘Spandan II’, Gallery Articulate, Mumbai
2007 ‘Celebrating India’, curated by Suneet Chopra, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru 

2007 ‘Landscape in Modern Painting’, Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2007 ‘GREENSCAPE’ auction by Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai
2006 ‘Art of Bengal’, New Delhi
2006 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Artists Circle, Kolkata
2006 Annual Show & ‘Parama’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2005-07 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
2005 ‘Colours and Palettes of Bengal’, New Delhi
2005 ‘Versions’, Zest Group, Kolkata
2005 Summer Show, CIMA Gallery, Kolkata
2005 Group Show, Mahua Gallery, Bengaluru
2004 Annual Show, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2004 ‘Young Contemporary Artists’, Art Motif, New Delhi
2003 ‘Recent Works’, CIMA Gallery, Kolkata
2003 ‘Parama’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2003 ‘Nadir Sathe Dekha’, Art Workshop & Show, Kolkata

2003 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata 

2002 ‘Landscapes & Contemporary Indian Painting’, Art Motif, New Delhi
2002 ‘Women Artists’, Artworld, Chennai
2002 ‘Artexquisite’, Group Show, Singapore

2002 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Gallerie 88, Kolkata 

2002 ‘Art in Art College of West Bengal’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi 

2001 Group Show, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
2001 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Gallerie 88, Kolkata 

2000 ‘The Group’, Calcutta Information Centre, Kolkata

2000 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 

2000 ‘Different Strokes, Gallery 42, New Delhi
2000 Charukala Utsav, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
2000 ‘Visions & Attitudes’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai

2000 Joint Show with Ramlal Dhar, Art World, Chennai
2000 ‘Contemporary Indian Painting, Art Motif, New Delhi
2000 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata
1999 ‘Shakti’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
1999 Group Show, organized by Birla Academy of Art & Culture at Mumbai
1999 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Gallerie 88, Kolkata
1998 Annual Show, Surya Gallery, Hyderabad
1998 Gallery Art Motif, New Delhi
1998 Rabindra Bharati University Teachers’ Show, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata 

1997 ‘Panchadashi’, Galerie La Mère, Kolkata
1996 Eight Women Painters, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
1994 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
1994 Art Heritage, New Delhi
1994 National Exhibition of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1994 Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
1993 Joint Show with Ramlal Dhar, Alliance Française de Madras, Chennai
1993 Summer Show, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1993 ‘A Tribute to Nature’, Gallery BF 14, Kolkata
1991 Open Air Exhibition, Birla Academy, Kolkata
1991, 93 West Bengal State Academy, Kolkata
1986 Group of Four Painters, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1983, 85 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
1982-85 Annual Exhibition, Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan

WORKSHOPS / ART CAMPS

2020 Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata
2007 Scindia School Art Camp, Gwalior
2006 Workshop for Indian Life Saving Society, Kolkata
2006 All India Senior Artist Camp, A.I.F.A.C.S., New Delhi
2005 Art Camp with Artists from North East, Artists Circle, Kolkata

2005 Art Camp for Short Film Festival, Kolkata

2005 ‘Art Camp’, Centenary Celebration, G.C. Laha, Kolkata 

2005 Mayo College Art Camp, Ajmer
2004 INDAL Art Camp, organised by Zest Group, Muri 

2002-03 Nadir Sathe Dekha, Kolkata

2001 Art Camp, organised by Taj Krishna & Aurodhan Art Gallery, Hyderabad
2001 ‘Art Beat’, Rotary Club, Pondicherry
2000 Stained Glass Workshop, organised by Ms. Katayun Saklat, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata 

2000 Women Artists of Bengal, organised by Rajya Charukala Parishad, Kolkata
1998 ‘Art & Industry’ organised by TATA STEEL, Jamshedpur
1995 West Bengal Women Painters, organised by Rajya Charukala Parishad, Kolkata

PERSONAL DETAILS
Date of Birth: 6 February 1963

Travels: Apart from being widely travelled in India, have also visited several cities of USA, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, England, Scotland, South Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius etc.

Collections: Birla Academy of Art & Culture (Kolkata), Bharat Bhavan (Bhopal), Ebrahim Alkazi, Jogen Chowdhury, Art World (Chennai), Calcutta Information Centre (Kolkata), artsindia.com (New York), Art Exquisite (Singapore) & numerous private collections in India, USA, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, etc.