Balkrishna Patel (1925-2003)
Faculty of Fine Arts, Vadodara, 1955-56
Balkrishna Patel was born in Ahmedabad in 1925 and studied painting under Ravishanker Rawal and N S Bendre at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M S University, Baroda. He was one of the pioneer members of the Group 1890.
He uses colour sparingly in his paintings to avoid burdening the work which is occupied mainly by horses or women or figuristic portrayals of the female form. The idea is to bring balance, to both energies in the universe just like the yin and the yang. Though his line of thought is more serene, both are at peace with themselves and not wrought with intentions. They are at times playful and dancing to the love song of life. The woman is sometimes seen astride, at times the horse is beckoning her to an unknown land, coaxing her to explore the world.
Patel participated in several group shows in India and abroad and his works can be found in the permanent collection of National Gallery of Modern Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, Roopankar Museum, Bhopal. He has won several awards from the Lalit Kala Akademi, Bombay Art Society, National Award, Gujarat Rajya Lalit Kala Award. He showcased his works in solo exhibitions at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai and Art Heritage, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi and Contemporary Art Gallery in Ahmedabad. He passed away in 2003 in Ahmedabad.