Art Magnum is presently exhibiting the magnificent, The Poetics of the Ordinary, a tribute solo exhibition of works by the late artist Mona Bendre, where one could easily view the 23 artworks (oil on canvas) from 2 February 2026 till 14 March 2026.
Curated by Subhra Mazumdar and Gayatri Mathur, the exhibition offers a rare and deeply reflective glimpse into the artistic world of Mona Bendre, whose practice quietly unfolded alongside a life rooted in spirituality, discipline, and sensitivity toward nature and everyday experience. Late Artist Mona Bendre was the wife of the renowned artist Late N.S Bendre.
This posthumous exhibition brings together a carefully selected body of work that reveals how Bendre transformed ordinary spaces, objects, and moments into sites of emotional depth and contemplation. Her paintings do not seek spectacle. Instead, they invite viewers to pause and look again at what often goes unnoticed. Corners of rooms, modest landscapes, still life arrangements, and flower compositions become meditative spaces shaped by memory, presence, and inner reflection.
A defining feature of Bendre’s work is her earthy and restrained palette. Deep maroon browns, muted ochres, and softened tonal layers create a sense of atmosphere and quiet intensity. Her surfaces are textured and thoughtfully built, suggesting time, repetition, and lived rhythms rather than dramatic gestures. The result is work that feels intimate and deeply human.
Recurring floral arrangements appear throughout the exhibition as an emotional and symbolic thread. Often composed from fallen blossoms gathered from her garden, these works reflect her bond with nature and her belief in the dignity of small, everyday acts. Each flower, rendered through varied techniques and tonal shifts, carries its own identity, mirroring individual experiences and personal memory.
Alongside these works, the exhibition also features select landscapes and early paintings, including pieces from the late 1960s that demonstrate her confident use of impasto and expressive texture. A contrasting Still Life series introduces brighter hues such as reds, yellows, and metallic tones, offering a joyful and sensorial counterpoint to her earth-toned compositions.
Together, these works reveal an artist who believed that meaning lives not only in the extraordinary but in attentiveness to the familiar. Bendre’s paintings encourage slowness, reflection, and emotional engagement, asking viewers to linger and connect with their own lived experiences.
The Poetics of the Ordinary stands as both a tribute and an invitation- to rediscover the quiet poetry that exists within everyday life.