Honouring Gieve Patel: Ranjit Hoskote Curates ‘A Show of Hands’ at Vadehra Art Gallery

Curating a tribute exhibition is no small task, especially when the subject is as multifaceted as Gieve Patel—a celebrated artist, poet, and doctor whose works resonate deeply with themes of vulnerability, mortality, and cultural strife. With A Show of Hands, curated by poet, art critic, and curator Ranjit Hoskote, the Vadehra Art Gallery offers a moving homage to Patel’s legacy. The exhibition brings together 73 works by 13 artists, forming a richly textured fabric of artistic camaraderie, personal connections, and creative expression.

Hoskote’s relationship with Patel is central to the exhibition’s narrative. “I came to this project not as a neutral outsider,” Hoskote reflects, “but as a poet and art critic who had enjoyed the privilege of Gieve’s friendship for 37 years, since I was a teenager.” This intimate connection has shaped the exhibition, imbuing it with a rare emotional resonance.

Friendship and Artistic Camaraderie

The diversity of voices and perspectives within A Show of Hands is a testament to Patel’s ability to connect deeply with people across generations, disciplines, and geographies. “Diverse as the voices and perspectives of the participating artists are,” Hoskote explains, “they are united in a tapestry of friendship, mutuality, generosity, and artistic camaraderie that Gieve wove.”

The exhibition features artists whose relationships with Patel span decades. Some, like Sudhir Patwardhan and Gulammohammed Sheikh, were close friends and collaborators. Others, such as Nilima Sheikh and Jitish Kallat, are esteemed colleagues whose work Patel admired. Still, others represent a younger generation of artists in whose practices Patel took a keen interest.

For Hoskote, the curatorial process involved weaving these connections into a cohesive narrative. He describes his approach as creating “subtle harmonies, passages of counterpoint, and resonant polyphony.” This orchestral metaphor captures the essence of the exhibition, where each artist’s work contributes to a larger symphony of ideas and emotions.

Themes of Vulnerability and Mortality

Patel’s art often grappled with the fragility of the human condition, exploring themes of vulnerability and mortality through a deeply empathetic lens. These themes find profound resonance in the works on display at A Show of Hands.

Sudhir Patwardhan’s intimate portraits of Patel in his final days are among the exhibition’s most poignant pieces. These drawings capture Patel’s resilience in the face of mortality, evoking Dylan Thomas’s exhortation to “not go gentle into that good night.” Hoskote reflects on the impact of these works: “They are deeply moving portraits of a human being close to the end, yet refusing to surrender.”

Nilima Sheikh’s quartet of paintings reimagines one of Patel’s iconic images—a battered man in a landscape. “Nilima varies the scale,” Hoskote explains, “so that we move from a close-up of the figure to a rich vista in which it is a detail.” This shift in perspective underscores the universality of Patel’s themes, situating individual vulnerability within larger contexts of social and natural environments.

Another striking contribution comes from Biraaj Dodiya, whose octet of sculptural works draws inspiration from Patel’s dual identity as an artist and a doctor. These sculptures reference the technical tools of the hospital—gurneys, operation tables—while also evoking themes of repose, healing, and repair. “They speak to the duality of Gieve’s life and legacy,” Hoskote observes.

The Affirmative Vote

The exhibition’s title, A Show of Hands, is as much a metaphor for unity as it is a reflection of the diversity on display. Hoskote describes the title’s dual connotations: “The affirmative vote communicates itself in the extraordinary generosity with which the participating artists have given of themselves.”

This generosity is evident not only in the quality of the works but also in their sheer volume. With 73 pieces on display, the exhibition is a substantial undertaking—a testament to the respect and admiration Patel commanded among his peers.

The works span a wide array of media, from oil and acrylic paintings to embroidery, sculpture, and video art. This diversity reflects Patel’s own interdisciplinary approach, as well as his belief in the power of art to transcend boundaries.

Figuration and Abstraction

Patel’s art occupies a unique space between figuration and abstraction, a dialogue that is central to A Show of Hands. Hoskote elaborates: “The pictorial representation of the figure is always already premised on some degree or measure of abstraction.”

This interplay is particularly evident in the works of Jitish Kallat, who explores figuration and abstraction through a variety of media. His contributions range from conceptual tree diagrams and stencil-cut drawings to near-photographic depictions of natural forms. “Jitish’s work reflects the depth and nuance of this dialogue,” Hoskote notes, highlighting its resonance with Patel’s artistic philosophy.

Patel’s own ability to blur boundaries is celebrated through these works. “His protagonists,” Hoskote observes, “often share in the textures of the trees, the streets, the earth around them.” This seamless integration of human and natural elements underscores Patel’s belief in the interconnectedness of all life.

Curating as Poetry

For Hoskote, curating is not merely an intellectual exercise but a deeply poetic practice. “I approach space, and the placing of objects in space, through the twin modes of musicality and architecture,” he explains.

This sensibility is evident in the exhibition’s layout, which Hoskote describes as a score. “The poem and the exhibition are both, for me, a score,” he says. “They are shaped through variations of tempo, the alternation of emphasis and pause, the convergences and divergences among various voices and instruments.”

The result is an exhibition that feels both meticulously structured and organically fluid—a fitting tribute to Patel’s artistic ethos.

Honouring a Legacy

Hoskote’s relationship with Patel extends beyond their shared love of art; it is also rooted in a profound intellectual and emotional connection. His recently published book, To Break and To Branch, offers a deeper exploration of Patel’s legacy through six essays written over two decades.

Reflecting on Patel’s dual artistic vision, Hoskote shares: “I have been fascinated by the duality in his art, between the concretely material details of human life in all its fragility and woundedness and the sweeping transcendental promise of his enigmatic paintings.” This duality, he notes, is a defining feature of Patel’s work, which balances visceral empathy with a grander, almost cosmic perspective.

For Hoskote, A Show of Hands is both a personal and professional milestone. “This exhibition, along with my recent book of essays on his art, are my acts of homage to him,” he says.

A Universal Resonance

Ultimately, A Show of Hands is more than a memorial; it is a celebration of Patel’s enduring impact on the art world and beyond. Through the works of the participating artists, Patel’s themes of vulnerability, resilience, and interconnectedness continue to inspire and resonate.

Hoskote’s curatorial approach—rooted in friendship, mutuality, and poetic sensibility—ensures that Patel’s legacy is not only preserved but also reimagined for future generations. “This is a show that invites us to reflect, to remember, and to renew our commitment to the values Gieve stood for,” Hoskote concludes.

"A Show of Hands" is on view at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, until January 4, 2025.