At Chemould Prescott Road, Prof. Dr. Avinash Kolhe examines Prabhakar Kolte’s Asymmetrical Synthesis, exploring abstraction, nature, philosophy, and artistic process through the celebrated Indian modernist’s remarkable semi-retrospective exhibition in Mumbai today.

Though Prabhakar Kolte [b 1946] can’t exactly be called a midnight child, he seems to have imbibed the spirit of independent India. Recently his semi-retrospective was held at the Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai which ended on 19th August 2026. He has spent years in the beautiful campus JJ School of Art, first as a student and later as a faculty. Today he is known as an abstract artist of international repute. The recently concluded exhibition offered glimpses into 80-year-old Kolte’s philosophy behind his creative process. For Kolte, painting was a continuous process.

A careful look at his work communicates to the viewer a complete absence of known forms which is his conscious decision. In his latest exhibition Asymmetrical Synthesis at Chemould Prescott Road, one got to see 17 abstract works that had deep connection with nature. Though he sought inspiration from nature, he did not imitate it but captured his perception of nature on the canvas.

The Artist as Writer

Kolte, a prolific artist, is known to be equally at home with pen as he writes philosophical essays about art, culture and nature. His famous essay ‘My Paintings’ explored painting as unguided journey where the end is never in sight. Here perhaps the journey is the story.

And why is he inspired by nature? Because nature never copies itself and has no blueprint to follow. It works with gay abandon. If you want to know more about this approach to art, do read Kolte’s book of essays ‘From Art to Art’ published in 2008. His genius and creativity are not confined to one medium, colors. His creative process touches different mediums of communications.

Philosophy Behind the Canvas

In one of the essays he writes ‘our perception starts with the basic senses, but whatever we perceive is understood through language, through repetition and association. Language, that gives us sole existence in society, was formed by our forefathers long before we were born. Language, where the word-play has gradually taken over the functions of our five basic senses-all this under the banner of education.’ No wonder layers of philosophy permeate his paintings.

Drawing from Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, the concept of ‘asymmetrical synthesis’ allows for the co-existence of contradictory elements without the botheration of balance, harmony or unity. Instead, this concept believes that there is possibility of divergent elements to co-exist in dynamic and unequal flux. It also means existence of the known with the unknown, independent of each other. This is markedly different from the concept of symmetry in Western philosophy which means bringing two opposite things together to find a symmetrical balance, harmony or unity.

An Exhibition Beyond Paintings

The latest show ‘Asymmetrical Synthesis’ featured Prabhakar Kolte's recent abstract acrylic-on-canvas in addition to multi-disciplinary archival materials, including his writings, poems, lectures, and videos. As one walked through the gallery, one could hear Kolte’s voice through readings from the immortal Dyaneshwari. Not only this, one could also hear recordings of his conversations with the students. They sounded like dialogues between Plato and his disciples.

The paintings exhibited announced Kolte’s deep belief in painting as an evolving process that is impacted by movement, intuition and self-discovery.  Visiting the exhibition was an unparalleled experience!

Prabhakar Kolte is one of India’s foremost abstract painters, celebrated for transforming nature, language and philosophy into luminous visual forms. A distinguished alumnus and former faculty member of Sir J.J. School of Art, Kolte’s work has shaped contemporary Indian abstraction for over five decades, earning recognition across museums, galleries and international exhibitions.