Artist Chandrakant Channe will present ‘Black Whispers’, an exhibition of paintings, plate lithographs and drawings exploring the lives, struggles and aspirations of Pardhi children, at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, from October 27 to November 2. The exhibition draws on Channe’s decade-long association with Pardhi children, during which he has explored their creativity through drawings and observed their innocence, imagination and resilience amid poverty, displacement and social stigma. Rather than depicting their lives literally, the artist seeks to convey their unspoken experiences through visual metaphors, reflecting their vulnerability, uncertain futures and enduring hopes.

 

The exhibition also examines the Pardhi community’s traditional relationship with wildlife, highlighting how hunting was historically linked to livelihood and survival. Through this, Channe explores the complex relationship between human existence, nature and the struggle for survival. A recurring image in the exhibition is that of a human figure with covered eyes, symbolising uncertainty, silence and the limitations imposed by circumstances. For Channe, black represents more than darkness. It embodies deprivation, fear, memories and voices that often remain unheard, while also holding the possibility of awakening and hope.

 

“Black Whispers is my humble attempt to listen to those silent and symbolic voices through canvas and paper,” says Channe. The exhibition will remain open daily from 11 am to 7 pm, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the artist’s reflections on marginalisation, childhood and the resilience of the human spirit.