Review: “Visthapan” by Vishwa Sahni at Jehangir Art Gallery

Vishwa Sahni’s latest solo exhibition, Visthapan, on view at Jehangir Art Gallery from 14–20 October 2025, marks a compelling evolution in the artist’s visual language. Known for his intricate compositions rooted in the theme of migration—both literal and imagined—Sahni now ventures into a more atmospheric realm, where abstraction breathes with newfound translucency.

The show juxtaposes earlier works with recent canvases, revealing a shift from tightly structured, harder-edged forms to softer, swelling shapes that shimmer behind layered washes. This transition, perhaps influenced by Sahni’s move from rural Madanpur to an urban studio in Mumbai, reflects a recalibrated perspective—one that embraces improvisation and gestural spontaneity over rigid spatial illusion.

While the iconography remains legible, the newer pieces challenge viewers to engage with a subtler, more ambiguous pictorial space. A standout seven-foot square painting anchors this transformation, where Sahni’s elevated horizon line hints at ghost landscapes, stripped of their former diagonals and storybook trees. The result is a surface in flux—edges ragged, textures airy, and colors subdued yet resonant.

Despite the departure from his earlier complexity, Sahni’s work retains its intellectual rigor. Visthapan does not chase novelty; instead, it deepens the artist’s commitment to exploring the migrant landscape through disciplined composition and thematic continuity. For longtime followers, this exhibition demands a recalibration of expectations—but rewards with a rich, historically aware sensibility.

In an art world often seduced by spectacle, Sahni’s restraint and introspection offer a refreshing counterpoint. Visthapan is not just a show—it’s a meditation on change, memory, and the enduring power of thoughtful abstraction.

At a time when migration to Western countries has become increasingly fraught—especially in light of President Trump’s new visa restrictions—Visthapan resonates with urgent relevance. The faceless figures in Vishwa Sahni’s paintings evoke the erasure of identity and dignity experienced by those who cross borders in search of safety or opportunity. These spectral forms speak to the emotional toll of displacement, where human values are often denied in bureaucratic systems. Sahni’s work becomes a poignant visual protest, reminding viewers that behind every policy are real lives, and that art can restore the humanity that politics too often obscures.