Laxman Pai

1926

Is born in Margao, Goa, under Portuguese occupation, to a Brahmin Hindu family. Schooling in Marathi from Damodar Vidyalaya, and in Portuguese and English from New Era High School. The state’s lush beauty and landscapes will become a recurrent source of inspiration for his work and provide him the initial impetus to pursue a career in the arts.

1946

Is part of India’s struggle for independence by joining the Goa Liberation Movement during his final years at college, suffering political repercussions as a minor. Is tortured in police custody in Goa.

1947

Is awarded the prestigious Mayo medal. Starts teaching at Sir J. J. School of Art (till 1951).

1949

Exhibits with Shankar Palsikar at Bombay Art Society.

1950

Has a solo exhibition at Bombay Art Society.

1951-61

Sails for Paris with his artist friend Sadanand Bakre; they are met by artists S. H. Raza, F. N. Souza, and Akbar Padamsee, who have preceded them. While studying at École des Beaux-Arts, he is exposed to works by Paul Klee, Joan Miro, and Mark Chagall. His artistic style begins to include elements like angular simplification, the exceptional flatness of the pictorial surface and the use of expressive, rhythmical lines. During this period, he has one-man shows in Paris (frequently), London, Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen, Bombay, and New Delhi.

1953

Pai presents a portrait of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to him at the latter’s residence in New Delhi. At a time when academic portraits are still popular, Pai’s experimentation with modern portraiture sets him apart from his peers, even when they are not always considered flattering by the hoi-polloi.

1959

Exhibits at Galerie Dauphine, Paris.

1961

Participates in Biennale de Paris, France, and in Le Printemps, Galerie d’ Arts, Paris. Returns to India and settles down in Bombay.

1961,'63,'72

Wins Lalit Kala Akademi’s national award.

1962

An exhibition of his works from 1948-62 is held at Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.

1963

Takes part in Tokyo Biennale, Japan, and Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil. Has an exhibition at Raj Bhawan, Bombay.

1964

Has an exhibition at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

1965

Is part of ‘Musical Moods’, a series of paintings inspired by Indian ragas, organised by Kanika Art Centre, New Delhi, and Taj Art Gallery, Bombay.

1966

His ‘Purusha and Prakriti’ exhibition opens at Triveni, New Delhi.

1967

Participates in a group show, ‘Dance Forms and Selection, 1947-67’, organised by All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi.

1970

Pai’s works are part of solo exhibitions in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

1971-72

His increasingly mythological works are exhibited in Goa, New Delhi and Bombay at an exhibition titled ‘Ramayana’.

1973

‘Human Forms’ exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.

1975

‘Kangra Valley’ exhibition at Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi.

1976,'79,'85,2000

Exhibitions at Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi.

1977-87

Is principal of Goa College of Art.

1985

Is awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. The recognition is for Pai’s contribution as a painter as well as an educator. He is among a handful of artists to have won several national awards, and his penchant for exploring traditional Indian contexts through the language of modernism wins him many admirers.

1987

Is honoured by the Government of Goa. ‘Retrospective 1947-87’ sponsored by Kala Academy for Goa, Diu, and Daman, Panaji.

1989

An exhibition at Rabindra Bhawan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, is organised by Kumar Gallery.

1991

His ‘Navras’ series is exhibited at Triveni, New Delhi; another solo exhibition follows at the same venue in 1993.

1994,'97,'98

Pai’s sensual, erotic works take centre stage at the ‘Purush Prakriti in Kamasutra’ exhibition and ‘Kaama and Fantasies Series’, both at Dhoomimal, New Delhi, and ‘Kaama-Krodh-Moha-Moksha’, also in New Delhi.

1995

Is awarded the Nehru Award, Goa.

2006

DAG’s 'Pai in Paris: Early Works' looks at the artist’s practice in the European city with an exhibition curated by Roobina Karode.

2018

Receives the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.

2021

Breathes his last on March 14 at his Dona Paula residence in Goa.