Tanay Kumar’s Debut Solo Mumbai Exhibit Mapped The Multitudes Of His Inner Worlds

After a journey of practicing art and exhibiting internationally, this exhibition marks Tanay Kumar’s debut solo presentation in India. True to its title, 'The World I See and the World I Hold', the exhibition is divided into two distinct sections, offering a layered look into how Tanay sees, and perceives the world. 

Tanay Kumar is not a conventional artist. He has been a designer, an entrepreneur, and has never formally studied art. Yet, his journey into becoming an artist and arriving at his first solo show in India unfolds clearly through the exhibition. This body of work doesn’t simply capture a moment where an artist presents a collection. Instead, it reads like a map of the many facets of Tanay’s life.

The exhibition is divided into two sections, the first focusing on how Tanay sees the world- Sight. This section showcases his sketches of monuments, streets, and objects encountered during his travels, both in India and beyond. The works range from realistic depictions to more impressionistic interpretations of these scenes. There’s a visible progression in his practice, from earlier sketches that use colour to later works rendered almost entirely in black and white. The artist casually attributes this shift to reducing the weight of his bag while travelling, but what stood out to me was his ability to capture light so effortlessly, even within the restraint of black and white.

The section that resonated with me the most, however, was The World I Hold- showcasing what Tanay thinks of the world. Predominantly created using acrylic on canvas and continuing the bias towards black and white, these works move inward. Each piece speaks to Tanay’s personal perceptions of the world and the times we live in. Simple observations are transformed into large, impactful works that feel like visual manifestations of thought. Walking into this section feels like walking into Tanay Kumar’s mind. Each of the pieces showcase his point of view on a topic, yet depicted in a way that feels like seeing one’s dream in black and white and at times a splash of colour. 

As I walked through the exhibition, the piece that stayed with me was The Womb. The painting depicts a life form shooting out of a womb, a reminder that no matter who we become, we all originate from the same place. To me, the figure felt almost like a shooting star, charged with immense energy and carrying the potential to become an entire human being. At the same time, the work hints at the forceful, uncontrollable nature of life itself.

The exhibit also gives us a co- creation piece, for which Tanay Kumar has collaborated with his poet wife. The artist has created 21 abstract pieces, Each artwork captures one of the 21 poems written by his partner in the book ‘Ekees Ehsaas’. This work shows a visual and textual interpretation of feelings. 

Ultimately, the exhibition feels like an intimate walk through Tanay Kumar’s life, his journey into becoming an artist, and a visual archive of his thoughts, observations, and inner worlds. Visit IFP to step into this layered, honest representation of an artist finding meaning between the worlds he sees and the ones he holds.

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