Ram Dongre is exhibiting stunning large-scale paintings inspired by Indian mythology and frescoes with art incept at the 37th edition of London Art Fair and India Art Fair this month
As a child, Ram Dongre used to be immersed in creat- ing godly figures. He learnt the aesthetics and intricacies of these art forms from his father, a passion- ate artist himself. It deeply influenced him — not as mythology, but as a personal exploration of divinity in every- day life.
“Indian mythology is a beautiful fusion of emotions, nature, and aes- thetics. It’s a complex tapestry where gods, heroes, and cosmic forces inter- twine with the natural world, creating a rich narrative that resonates on a deeply spiritual level,” says Ram Dongre, who made his debut at the London Art Fair.
Ram Dongre is exhibiting large-scale paintings inspired by Indian mytholo- gy and frescoes with Art Incept at London Art Fair in a group exhibition curated by international curator Virginia Damtsa as part of the Platform section. Dongre references to Indian myths and legends with a lifelong interest in nature inspired by the tranquility of the rural land- scapes where he has spent most of his life.
His work carries the essence of Indian mythology, but it is more about portraying nature, humans, and objects as deities or divine forms. “Each piece is a conversa- tion between the past and the present, an attempt to preserve the essence of her- itage in a rapidly changing world,” he says. The colours rep- resent the pulse of identities, says Ram adding, “I strive to revive these lost experiences and emo- tions, bringing them back into contempo- rary consciousness.”
Antique frescoes and murals in India at Bhimbetka, Ajanta, Altamira and Lascaux provide a historical record of past rituals, and these provide Dongre with inspiration for his contemporary reimaginings of ancient Indian art.
Ram, who was born in Madhya Pradesh and studied painting followed by a Masters from Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya in Chattisgarh, adds, “My art is about layered colours, reflecting Indian history which is gradually fading from collective memory.”
