Print Age Exhibition Launches at India Art Fair, Examining Printmaking in the AI Era
Uday and Sunaina Jain of the prestigious Dhoomimal Gallery are presenting Print Age, a comprehensive and thought-provoking survey of printmaking that critically examines the medium's contemporary relevance during the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. This significant exhibition is strategically timed to coincide with the 17th edition of the India Art Fair, offering a parallel cultural experience. It will be open to the general public from 4 February to 15 March 2026, providing an extended period for art enthusiasts and scholars to engage with the works.
A Historical Journey Through Printmaking Techniques
The exhibition undertakes an ambitious chronological journey, tracing the evolution of printmaking from its most primitive origins—such as prehistoric cave handprints—through to modern digital and contemporary practices. This expansive scope serves to highlight the enduring value of manual skill, artistic experimentation, and tactile processes. In an era where AI-generated imagery is fundamentally reshaping visual culture and creative production, Print Age presents a compelling argument: traditional artistic processes and human craftsmanship continue to hold profound meaning, cultural significance, and unique aesthetic value that cannot be replicated by algorithms.
Extensive Collection Featuring Masters and Emerging Artists
The showcase is remarkably extensive, featuring 156 individual prints created by 80 artists from diverse backgrounds and career stages. The roster includes internationally celebrated figures such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, whose works are foundational to modern art history. The exhibition also prominently features leading Indian printmaking masters, including Laxma Goud and Jyoti Bhatt, who have significantly contributed to the medium's development in the subcontinent. Importantly, the show provides a vital platform for emerging practitioners, creating a dialogue between established legacies and new, innovative voices.
The preview event successfully attracted several noted guests from India's art and cultural community, signaling strong institutional interest. The works on display have been meticulously sourced from important private collections and institutional archives located in Baroda, Ahmedabad, and Delhi, as well as from the extensive holdings of the Dhoomimal Gallery collection itself.
Curatorial Insights and Gallery's Commitment
Uday Jain, Director of Dhoomimal Gallery, provided key insights into the exhibition's context. "Today, collectors are beginning to understand not only the historic but also the material value of limited-edition prints by established master printmakers," he stated. "For many years already, Dhoomimal has supported emerging artists through the Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation awards as well as by actively promoting printmaking through dedicated exhibitions and initiatives."
Curator Johny ML elaborated on the exhibition's scholarly and cultural mission. "We possess an extensive, and often overlooked, history of printmaking in India. Our visual landscape has been profoundly shaped by print culture over many centuries. This exhibition draws from the many significant private and institutional collections to tell that story. It also intentionally includes new works created by younger artists, ensuring the narrative is both historical and forward-looking," he explained.
By situating traditional printmaking practices in direct conversation with the age of artificial intelligence, Print Age promises to be a landmark exhibition. It challenges viewers to reconsider the value of human touch in art, celebrates a rich artistic heritage, and spotlights the dynamic future of the medium through the lens of both established masters and the next generation of creators.
