At South Mumbai’s iconic Jehangir Art Gallery, Ink & Kin A Solo Show by Sushma Kothari

Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai June 24th July, 2025: Opening this evening at the iconic Jehangir Art Gallery in Fort, Mumbai, Ink & Kin marks the debut solo exhibition of artist Sushma Kothari. Featuring a deeply personal collection of printmaking, the show reflects Kothari’s unique artistic journey, one that bridges the two cities she calls home: Mumbai and San Francisco.

Sushma Kothari’s Ink & Kin is a tender tribute to memory, family, and place, explored through the evocative medium of printmaking. Shaped by years spent between Mumbai and San Francisco, the exhibition reflects the quiet richness of lived experience: domestic rituals, natural landscapes, shared traditions, and fleeting moments preserved on paper. “Sensitivity, attentiveness, love, kindness, and joy define Sushma Kothari and flow through her work,” writes Mahendra Damle, educationist at Rachana Sansad Academy of Fine Arts and Craft, Mumbai.

Kothari’s formal training in printmaking spans both Mumbai and San Francisco. Originally a painter, she transitioned to printmaking to better express her visual storytelling instincts. “Though a painter by training,” Damle continues, “she has found her true language in printmaking.” Her carved linoleum plates reveal intricate textures, layered emotions, and quiet detail—line by line, they speak of remembered landscapes, familial affection, and the poetry of everyday life.

Jesús “Txutxo” Pérez, a Mexican artist based in San Francisco, captures the essence of her practice: “A real artist is always on the lookout… In the case of Sushma, one of those forces behind her prints is love: love for art, love for family and nature, for her roots and traditions.” Watching her work, he adds, “the linoleum plate turns into cropland: fertile furrows where she plants lines, textures, colors, and shapes: intricate landscapes, traditional festivities, children’s smiles, and family memories.”

A particularly poignant part of Ink & Kin is the new series inspired by her recent travels through Kashmir. Drawn to the region’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant flora, and the warmth of its people, Kothari was profoundly moved. “Kashmir captivated me,” she shares. “The valleys, the flowers, the herds, the houseboats, and above all, the people—their hospitality touched something deep within me.”

Reflecting on the Kashmir works, Kothari adds:

“Every etching in my Kashmir series carries not only the visual beauty of the place but also my emotional response to its contrasts—the serenity of its nature, the vibrancy of its culture, and the underlying fragility of peace. These prints are my way of preserving those fleeting yet profound moments.”

Created during a time of tension—when the artist and her companions were in Pahalgam during a recent terror attack—this series carries an added layer of emotional resonance. “My heart goes out to the locals whose daily lives and livelihoods were shaken,” she says. In a gesture of solidarity, a portion of proceeds from the sale of these works will go toward supporting the education of schoolchildren in Kashmir.

“These are not just images,” Kothari emphasizes. “They are etched with love—my tribute to Kashmir.”

The Kashmir series includes evocative works such as Blooms of the Valley Kashmir, Lilies Beside My Floating Home, Shikara at Dal Lake Srinagar, Chopan – Shepherd at Doodhpatri, Dras River – Srinagar-Leh Highway, and St. Mary’s Church, Gulmarg Market.

Ink & Kin is both homage and offering—to kinship, to art, and to the emotional topography that shapes us.