Artist in Me Series

Inspired by the Australian First Nation’s stories of the Seven Sisters’ journey along ancestral routes - as showcased in 'Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art invites participants to explore another vibrant storytelling tradition from India: Phad painting.

Originating in Rajasthan, Phad is a centuries-old scroll art form that brings to life tales of local deities, folk heroes, and community life. Traditionally, these painted scrolls are carried by Bhopas, the priest-singers and storytellers, who travel from village to village unfolding the scrolls as they sing and narrate the stories to gathered audiences. Each Phad is not just a painting but a living document of oral history, where colour, rhythm, and narration merge into one.

Led by acclaimed Phad artist Kalyan Joshi, this two-day workshop combines film, dialogue, and hands-on creation to help participants understand how art, sound, and story intertwine to preserve cultural memory.

Day 1 – Understanding the Tradition

🎬 Watch a short documentary that introduces the process of Phad painting from sketching and colouring to performance and narration.

🗣️ Engage in a discussion on the history, themes, and motifs of Phad exploring elephants, horses, camels, human figures, and scenes of everyday life.

🧭 Learn how storytellers travel with their scrolls, keeping oral traditions alive across generations.

Day 2 – Creating Your Own Phad

🎨 Participate in a guided demonstration by the artist, learning how to sketch and compose your own scroll.

🖋️ Create a Phad-inspired artwork that weaves together traditional motifs with your own imaginative stories.

💬 Reflect through conversation — discovering how stories, symbols, and emotions transcend boundaries of culture and geography.

Through this immersive experience, participants will discover how visual storytelling in the Songlines and in Rajasthani Phad scrolls, maps human journeys, memories, and dreams upon the landscape of art.

This workshop accompanies 'Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters', the first major National Museum of Australia exhibition to tour India, presented in partnership with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi at the Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum. 

Artist Bio

Born in 1969 in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, Kalyan Joshi belongs to a celebrated lineage of Phad painters that dates back to the 13th century. Trained from the age of eight under his father, the Padma Shri awardee Shri Lal Joshi, he carries forward the traditional storytelling practice of Phad, a scroll art form performed along with song and narration by travelling bards.

While deeply rooted in tradition, Kalyan Joshi has also played a significant role in expanding the vocabulary of Phad. His work explores contemporary themes, new narratives, and innovative line-based compositions, making Phad relevant to current cultural conversations. He is also the founder of the Ankan Artist Group, dedicated to teaching and preserving this heritage art form.

Over the past three decades, Joshi has led over 200 workshops across India, including with SPICMACAY, design institutes, art colleges, and museums. His artworks have been showcased internationally in the USA, UK, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Australia, Central America, and more.

He is the recipient of several prestigious honors, including:

* National Award, Government of India (2010)

* National Merit Award, Government of India (2006)

* Raja Ravi Varma Award (2023)

* International Craft Revivalist of the Year Award (2021)

Notably, he created the world’s largest Phad (75 x 9 ft) for the New Parliament House of India, and his works are part of museum collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, British Museum, and Glasgow Museum.

Today, Kalyan Joshi continues to paint, teach, and inspire, preserving the spirit of storytelling while opening it to new voices and futures.