Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Indian Art, Mumbai inaugurated some rare works by one of India’s most celebrated master artists, Ram Kumar.  Titled ‘Paridrishy: State Of The Spirit’, the exhibition was inaugurated by esteemed Goan artist and Padma Shri Awardee, Laxman Pai on 31st of August 2016 at Sunaparanta.

Ram Kumar (born, 1924) is one of India's leading Modernists, part of the first generation of post colonial Indian artists and contemporary to the likes of M F Hussain, Jehangir Sabavala and S H Raza. 

A student of economics, Ram Kumar attended the St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi and then went on to study painting under Andre Lhote and Fernard Leger between 1949 to 1952. While in Paris, he joined the French Communist Party, and on his return home, he lived near the refugee camp at Karol Bagh in Delhi.  He not only drew inspiration from the unemployed homeless youth but also wanted to translate the unpleasant and seemingly irrational systems which existed in the human life cycle.

Ram Kumar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972, and the Padma Bhushan 2010 by the Government of India and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Government of Delhi in 2010. The 90-year old artist lives and continues to work in New Delhi.

The opening was well attended; prominent guests included Tushar Sethi- Director ICIA, Katharine Kakar, Margaret Mascarenhas, Samira Seth, Hanuman Kambli and a number of local artists. Most guests expressed surprise and delight at the opportunity to view master artist Ram Kumar’s work up-close.