About Us
Founded in 1996, Scapes & Isms is a bespoke gallery that serves as a platform for engaging with the critical issues of our time through innovation. Rooted in a commitment to sustainability, climate action, and the exploration of human consciousness, the gallery is a space where art transcends boundaries to inspire reflection and dialogue across cultures and generations.
At the cornerstone of its vision is Manav Gupta, an artist whose practice redefines the possibilities of contemporary art. A master of multiple disciplines, including paintings, poetry, sculpture, ceramics, and large-scale installations, Gupta’s work reflects an extraordinary ability to weave light, color, and material into narratives that resonate universally. Recognized as the father of contemporary ceramics in India, Gupta has transformed humble, traditional forms into powerful, modern expressions, elevating them to a global stage.
Gupta’s seminal projects—Rain, River, Time Machine, Noah’s Ark, and Beehive Garden Project—are profound meditations on time, nature, and the human condition. His work embodies a rare technical mastery paired with a deeply philosophical approach, engaging audiences in a shared responsibility for the planet. By intertwining art with environmental consciousness, Gupta’s practice reflects the essence of Scapes & Isms: a dedication to art that moves beyond aesthetic appreciation to spark meaningful conversations about the world we inhabit.
For nearly three decades, Scapes & Isms has been at the helm of shaping movements across art, culture, and literature. With a distinct focus on fostering innovation and engagement, the gallery continues to inspire collectors, connoisseurs, and communities alike. As it enters its next chapter, Scapes & Isms remains a testament to the enduring power of art to connect, transform, and shape a collective vision for a more thoughtful and sustainable future.
About the Artist
Manav Gupta
One of India's foremost contemporary artists.
Taking art beyond art. A Timeline of Innovation, Public Art, Outreach. Connecting People, Rivers, Waters and Cities of the World. AVANTE GARDE. CONTEMPORARY ART. arth – art for earth. A movement of Twenty Nine Years on environment consciousness, climate change and sustainable development.
o e u v r e
1996 - 2025
INSTALLATIONS
‘Inventions that redeploy, recycle and recreate new identities of material – putting them to fresh creative tasks.
Having transformed pottery into rivers, rain, beehives… metaphors of earth’s resources, in his series ‘excavations in hymns of clay’, he has recycled industrial concrete and metal waste into a sustainable city, and more.
Over the last decade, his art shows have been hailed as ‘ solo biennales’ as he consistently explores scale with exceptional quality of works laid out over acres of land with great sensibilities, sensitivity and elegance of production – a symphony of art weaving a travelling storyline of ‘museum projects’ that are a repository of ideas. They embrace open spaces , architecture, gardens, trees; informing public engagement as instruments of change and social impact with his brainchild ‘arth – art for earth’. As a movement.
His works show competent maturity of execution that comes with practiced experience of patient hard work, intricately translating deep profound content with originality of thought.’
PAINTINGS
Contemporary Miniatures to twenty feet high canvases, his oeuvre has predominantly explored light and color in nature in his own unique style that again puts the medium to fresh creative tasks whether it be watercolors, acrylics or oils. From ‘rainforests’ and ‘umbilical cords of earth’ to ‘Shoonya’ (from beyond) to ‘lyrics of light’ and ‘intimate whispers’ – his works have been critiqued as a silent discourse on the music of colors’ and he has been recognized as a master of light and color.
Murals
A World record five floor indoor staircase mural ‘Tree of Life’, 11500 sq ft in dimensions, at telecom giant Airtel’s Campus, Delhi NCR. Four unique processes deployed together involving thousands of corporate employees to let them experience painting with the artist. Bringing five elements in corporate space.
Indo Bhutan Friendship Mural in Bhutan commissioned by Govt. of India. With a suite of twenty feet high canvas murals that delineates the history of Indo Bhutan Friendship and the synergy between the two nations.
A 360 degree view Mural in Bhubaneswar built on seven towers of his own installation ‘City in a City – sustainable city – smart city’ that he has created by recycling discarded flyover construction scrap of giant concrete blocks. The mural has his story of ‘water – the new gold’ on the West side and Odisha’s iconic monuments, culture heritage and industry on the east side as a tribute to Odisha and an ode to Bhubaneswar’
OUTREACH
INTER-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIONS
CHOREOGRAPHY
‘DIALOGUES AT THE WATERFRONT’
‘An erudite, cultural practitioner, the artist in him doesn’t stop at his creations of installations or paintings.He takes art beyond art to feed a larger purpose. He conceptualizes , choreographs and curates interdisciplinary performances, outreach programmes with students, panel discussions with all stake holders of society and more; bringing them all together at his installations, allowing his work to become a bedrock of discourse on local and global concerns, for people to stop a while and think. A paradigm that he strongly believes in – that art and culture can offer fresh perspectives for solutions to global issues.’
‘PLANT A SAPLING ON MY CANVAS’
A multiple year outreach module that he created with his paintings for environment consciousness, much before it became drawing room conversation, has witnessed pinnacle moments of participation from the President of India to former Prime Minister and Chief Ministers to stalwarts from all walks of life to children.
OTHER
INTER-DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES
FILMS
Only painter to be invited by Ministry of Environment to create one minute films on Climate Change, Sustainable Development and biodiversity, he deployed his paintings, music, poetry and voice over to conceptualize and create them for broadcast on television.
Performance Art
He has pioneered collaborative performance art drawing from the Indian ’jugalbandi’ and innovating it, to paint LIVE on stage in concert with a performing artist, translating their music, vocals or dance in front of an audience, from a blank to finished canvas.
Invited by leading corporates across the globe for JUGALBANDI withDr L.Subramaniam, (Violin) on the occasion of the award by the French ambassador , India International Centre, New Delhi , Shubha Mudgal, (Vocals), Anup Jalota, (Vocals),Gen next musicians Rahul Sharma, (Santoor), Vijay Ghatke, (Percussion), Rajesh Chaurasia (Flute) Prathibha Prahlad (Bharat Natyam), Ballet performers,Jazz Sankalp Diwas Ministry of Culture with DR. Madhup Mudgal
POETRY | WRITINGS | PUBLICATIONS
In English and Hindi, published in anthologies and books.
SOLO -
EXHIBITIONS
PUBLIC PROJECTS
SELECT COMMISSIONS
MILESTONES
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
1996 - 2024
2019
WORLD’S FIRST PUBLIC ART MUSEUM ON WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A Permanent Commissioned Project . arth – art for earth. At Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar
Conceptualised and created by recycling discarded construction concrete cubes
and metal scrap from National Highway scrapyard.
‘SUSTAINABLE CITY – SMART CITY’
A UNIQUE OPEN AIR ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM UNDER A BRIDGE
TRANSFORMING HALF ACRE TRAFFIC ISLAND INTO A KALIEDOSCOPE
OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, INSTALLATIONS, MURALS, CARVED GROUND LANDSCAPING WITH
A STORY WITH A MESSAGE BY THE ARTIST
WORKS:
GIANT 20FT HIGH HAND PUMP SCULPTURE,
a fast turning obsolete object that qualifies as a a museum entity, as an ideal mataphor of sacred direct water source that the earth is. It became ironically a glaring reminder when Fani struck and the city suffered scarcity of water.
‘THE CITY IN A CITY’ –
A SURREAL ARCHITECTURE DESIGN AND EXECUTION OF A MODERN CITY MODEL WITH 7 HIGH RISE TOWERS made by assembling one time use discarded pressure testing concrete blocks and cubes used for load testing during construction of flyovers.
RECORD SEVEN TOWER MEGA MURAL
Painted on the self constructed architecture of concrete cubes
PAINTED ON THE CITY THAT HE CONSTRUCTED – DEPICTING THE CITY’S HERITAGE AND CULTURE ON ONE SIDE AND THE STORY OF WATER ON THE OTHER.
SABHAGHAR – THE CITY COURTYARD OF FIVE ELEMENTS
WITH ASHOKA’S EDICT OF EQUALITY, OPEN PAGODA SHEDS , THRONE OF SUN & FIVE ELEMENTS & SPECTATOR’s FERTILE GALLERY SEATINGS.
RIVER PATHWAYS STREET MURAL & INSTALLATION CARVED ON GROUND
Using excavator, connecting source of water with the city the artist traced a river and city engagement of mutual nourishment and rejuvenation while highlighting the perils of climate change depicted as snow
The pathways were painted as street mural.
AND THE ARTIST WEAVES A MESSAGE IN A STORY OF WATER & RIVER BY PUNCTUATING IT WITH HAND PUMPS.
2019
‘APPOINTED BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR ART & SUSTAINABILITY
BY KIIT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
2018
‘arth – art for earth’
5th June – 17th December
A SUITE OF GIANT INSTALLATIONS IN CLAY POTTERY OVER 27 ACRES
HOSTED BY IGNCA MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVT OF INDIA
FIRST EVER OPEN AIR TRAVELLING MUSEUM OF PUBLIC ART FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
THAT HAS MANY FIRSTS –
Hailed as ‘solo biennale’, the artist punctuates 27 acres of lawns as Nature’s laboratory,
with his signature suite of installations from ‘excavations in hymns of clay’ that deploys
his invention of transforming quintessential Indian everyday pottery into a spread of
mega installations of ‘river’, ’rain’, ‘rainforest and the beehive garden’, ‘Time Machine – the Sound of AUM’, ‘Noah’s Ark’ and more.
DIALOGUES AT THE WATERFRONT.
A 360 degree interdisciplinary art and culture movement for environment consciousness
and social impact for a better world bringing all stake holders of society together at the arth travelling museum and conceptualized, Curated and Choreographed by the artist where he allows his works be the bedrock for a kaleidoscope of inter disciplinary engagements
as a unique call to all stakeholders of society in the city for a discourse to find transforming solutions for sustainable living, panel discussions, inter disciplinary performances, poetry, talks, outreach for students, participative performance acts by audiences and visitors, chanting of vedic hymns, story telling and more.
‘our city needs the river, we need our trees. ’
An extensive outreach to schools and other educational institutions
through curated walks by the artist himself
“why do drugs, lets get drenched in rain” schools outreach programme
2017 - 2018
OCT 2017 – May 2018
SCULPTURE PARK AT AMRITA SHERGILL MARG, NEW DELHI.
A PRIVATE STUDIO PROTOTYPE OF THE PERMANENT MUSEUM
Thought Experiment – An interplay of context vs Perception of Luxury.
Pottery – the common man’s utensil turned into avant garde collector’s art
RAIN – International Premiere
PRIVATE COLLECTION EDITION.
2017
GANGA – YAMUNA PROJECT. THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE IN A MALL, HAILED AS A ‘SOLO BIENNALE’,
THE BEEHIVE GARDEN – Premiere
HOSTED BY DLF, MALL OF INDIA.
JAN ’17 – APR ’17
engagements at mutiple locations across the Mall to hand over a Museum experience drawing attention to pressing environmental concerns that the artist highlighted about the Yamuna.
With Dialogues at the Waterfront and Public outreach programmes.
RECORD TURNOUT.
EXTENDED BY PUBLIC DEMAND
2015-2016
Tavelling trilogy, IV United States : Ganga to Mississippi
RESEARCH TALKS LECTURES, DIALOGUES At Forecast Public Art, Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
Three month exploratory laboratory, research and engagement with cities of Minneapolis, Des Moines, along Mississippi and the Hudson along New York with water dialogues at Washington DC and Miami.
2015
FIRST EVER THE GANGA WATERFRONT ALONG TIME MACHINE,
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Engagement with space and architecture
Hundred thousand footfalls.
A GAME CHANGER
‘DIALOGUES AT THE WATERFRONT’ CONCEPTUALISED, CHOREOGRAPHED AND CURATED FOR SPREADING AWARENESS ON KEEPING GANGA CLEAN
The River & the Fort, Old Fort Dance FestivaI Invited by Delhi Government.
Engagement with dance and architecture.
2014
Time Machine,
A first of it’s kind Hour Glass.
Commissioned 20ft High Canvases Murals – Umbilical Cords Of Earth Series
Message in a Bottle.
A first of it’s kind installation on sustainability.
AEROCITY, IGI AIRPORT, NEW DELHI
2013
Travelling Trilogy III South Africa, Europe
unsung hymns of clay
the shrinking river
rainforests and the circle of life.
HOSTED BY NATIONAL MUSEUM PRETORIA &
INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION, SOUTH AFRICA
Extended as BRICS Summit outreach.
arth – art for earth precursor show.
Exhibition extended to Cape Town, Grahams Town by Lovell Gallery.
World’s first ever redeployment of pottery into mega installations.
Seminal canvas on 100 years of Indian Cinema commissioned by Pratham, London
FOUR RECORDS IN THE 2013 EDITION OF LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS
2012
Museum Laboratory
Research and Invention of transforming pottery onto environmental art with mega installations.
2011
First of its kind Indo Bhutan Friendship Mega Mural
A suite of six 18 ft and 12 ft high canvasses.
COMMISSIONED BY THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, GOVT OF INDIA.
Conceptualizing and depicting an archival documentation of Indo–Bhutan relations.
BIFA Museum, Bhutan.
2010
Travelling trilogy II, U.S.A., Europe.
Paintings & Installations, Films, Performance Art, Public collaborations.
(GANGA TO THAMES, SPECIAL PROJECT)
Amherst, M.A., New York, Des Moines, Iowa, San Francisco, C.A., Berlin, Germany and London, U.K
TREE OF LIFE.
WORLD RECORD,
11000 SQ FT, THREE DIMENSIONAL LARGEST INDOOR STAIRCASE MEGA MURAL AIRTEL CORPORATE CAMPUS, GURGAON
FOUR DIFFERENT MULTIPLE PROCESSES OF CONCEPTUAL, SITE SPECIFIC, COLLABORATIVE AND PERFORMANCE ART IN THE CREATION METHODOLOGY. involving thousands of employees to participate in the experience in the first phase and then weaving it all in the next phase.
Site given ‘Museum Status’ by Limca Book of Records
2008 - 2009
FIRST INDIAN ARTIST TO BE INVITED FOR INAUGURAL PREVIEW AT ICCR
(INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS) post the newly renovated Gallery, New Delhi, for the artist’s curtain raiser on Climate Change – a trilogy to US and Europe.
Commissioned by CNN-IBN for the “COPENHAGEN WALL OF HOPE” exclusive painting by the artist in response to climate change. Commissioned by Jindal Flag Foundation for depicting the Indian Flag translating nationalism and Mahatma Gandhi as metaphors.
2007
Travelling trilogy, Edition I, Middle East. Omani Fine Art‟s Society, Muscat, Oman and other venues.
PERMANENT COLLECTION, ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, OMAN
AUCTION -SALE : Bonham’s, LONDON (June,2007),
PERFORMANCE ART CONCERT SERIES transforming leading performing artistes oeuvre on canvas LIVE on stage
with Anup Jalota ; with Rahul Sharma, Rakesh Chaurasia & Vijay Ghate;
with Contemporary Dance Troupe & musicians with special needs.
Commissioned by Hitachi, Singapore for a Limited Edition Copyright of works for premiere plasma screens.
2006
Private Showing:
London, United Kingdom,
Finnish Embassy, New Delhi.
AUCTION -SALE : Christie’s, New Delhi, December (2006),
PERMANENT COLLECTION, RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN
PERFORMANCE ART LIVE on stage in “jugalbandi” with Dr L.Subramaniam.
Sanatan Puraskar awarded by French Ambassador to India.
2005
Exhibitions: Victoria Jones, London.
Facet Books, New York,
Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
ENVIRONMENT CONSCIOUSNESS AS PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
FIRST OF ITS KIND ONE MINUTE FILMS where the artist deployed his paintings, poetry, music, voice over to conceptualise and create public service messages for television on climate change, sustainable development, ecosystems, alternate energy.
Commissioned by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India.
2004
Exhibition at The Rashtrapati Bhawan, (President of India’s Office and Residence), India
2003
‘PLANT A SAPLING’ LANDMARK REVOLUTIONARY FIRST OF A KIND MEGA SHOW & OUTREACH BY THE ARTIST.
INVITED PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO TAKE A PLEDGE FOR TREES
Hosted by The Park Hotel, Delhi, for the artist’s exposition on environment consciousness
Commissioned by former President of India, DR A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM and published by Penguin India, for engaging his art with Dr. Kalam’s poetry on myriad themes as a book by Penguin Viking “THE LIFE TREE”, Also in other publications.
(Project Period: 2002-2005)
2002
Exhibition Hosted by The Leela Palace, Bangalore.
HAILED AS INDIA’S NAVRATNA BY SHRI RAM JETHMALANI.
HSBC, New Delhi.
India International Centre, New Delhi
‘SPARKS’ Exhibition & Book Release
Collaboration with Smt Shiela Gujral, Interpretation of her poems. Along with Book design by artist.
2001
First artist to be hosted by U.S. Ambassador at his residence, The Roosevelt House, New Delhi.
2000
First artist to be hosted by Dep. of Culture, at Shastri Bhawan (premises H.R.D. Ministry,) Govt. of India.
1999
Hosted by The Taj Palace, Delhi
“india awaiting – timeless metaphors of dreams.”
Interpretations in paintings.
1997
Hosted by The Taj Bengal, Kolkata.
‘EARTH. FREEDOM’.
ON MY EYOT’
ON INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
arth – art for earth
EPISODE ONE
‘SEEING THE UNSEEN’
SCULPTURES AND FUNCTIONAL INSTALLATIONS –
RECYCLING CUT AND DISCARDED TREE TRUNKS THROWN AWAY AS FIREWOOD
PAINTINGS: The ‘contemporary miniature’ earth series I With Haiku Poems. Watercolours.
1996
Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
THE FOLIAGE GARDEN
PERMANENT COLLECTION,
BIRLA ACADEMY OF ART & CULTURE
Auctions
Collections
Associations
Group shows
1996 - 2024
WORKS SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTIONS
CHRISTIE’S, NEW DELHI (DEC 2006)
BONHAM’S, LONDON (JUNE 2007)
CHRISTIE’S, LONDON (SEP 2010)
BONHAM’S, LONDON (OCT 2008),
PHILIP DE PURY, LONDON (OCT 2010)
WATER HEALTH CHARITY AUCTION, UNITED STATES (2017)
PERMANENT PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Indian Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Royal Household of Oman, Royal Household of Bhutan, WORLDMARK, Aerocity at T3 Delhi Airport, World record ten thousand sq. ft. five-floor mega mural “Tree of Life’ at Airtel Campus (now designated as an art museum site by Limca Book of Records, 2012), BIFA MUSEUM Indo-Bhutan friendship mural in Bhutan, Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore,BirlaAcademy of Art, Kolkata, Jindal Flag Foundation, Delhi, Roosevelt House.
SELECT CORPORATE AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS/ASSOCIATIONS & SPONSORS
Airtel, SJEPL, Bausch & Lomb, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Aditya Birla Group, Tata Group, Bank of India,New York,Bank Muscat, Oman, Bahwan Engineering Group, Oman, Khimji Ramdas LLC, Oman, Saud Bahwan Group, Al Ansari Group, Suhail Bahwan Group, Oman,DuPont, Facet Books,New York, e-bookers,London, HITACHI, Singapore, Jindal Steel, HSBC, H.D.F.C., ICICI, Allahabad Bank, Bharti Teletech, ONGC, Indian OilCorporation Ltd, HPCL, Bharat Petroleum, Amity Group, Motorola, Modi Telstra, Reckitt Benckiser,I.T.C, Electrolux, Maruti Udyog Ltd, Dabur,Reebok, Bharti Business, Gujarat Ambuja, ICI, Eveready, BOC, Pepsi, Kribhco, The Taj Group of Hotels, The Kenilworth Group, The Park, Kolkata, HHI, Kolkata, Peerless Group, Crompton Greeves, Nicco Group, Philips, Vardhman Group etc
CURATED/GROUP SHOWS SELECT PARTICIPATION
India Art Summit (New Delhi), Art Expo (Mumbai) ,Asia House, London, Victoria Jones, London, Facet Books, New York, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, British High Commission, Lalit Kala Akademi, British High Commissioner’s Residence, Bulgarian Embassy, Finnish Embassy, Italian Embassy, Bajaj Art Capital Art Advisory Services, Continuum, Habitat world inaugural show, World Wildlife Fund of India, International Tolerance Day Initiative by United Nations, Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore, Leela Palace, Bangalore, Studio for contemporary Art, Montage Arts/Raro, Uruswati Gallery, Art Camp: Eminent Artists, VHAI & IHC: Delhi Artists for Gujarat, Uruswati Art Gallery ,Spring Show, Art Today, Uruswati Art Gallery, Annual Show, Art Today, Black & White Show, Art Indus/Lalit Kala Academy: Leading watercolorists, VHAI-Their story: Indian artists interpretations, Arushi Arts, India Habitat Centre: Art &Cinema, Art Junction, Inter Continental Hotel, New Delhi. Kala Melas, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, Academy of Fine ARTS, Annual Exhibitions among others at national and International levels
Public
Lectures
Talks
1996 - 2024
LECTURES. TALKS.
Across Museums,
Cultural Organizations,
Universities, Colleges, Schools
Corporate institutions,
and various other forums
around the world
spanning
India, U.S.A., Europe, Central Asia, South Africa.
Including –
The President’s Lecture,
Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Minnesotta,
Forecast Public Lecture, MN,
Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai,
The San Jose State University, San Jose, CA,
University of Pretoria, South Africa,
UNISA South Africa,
Pretoria National Museum of Natural History, South Africa
IGNCA, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India,
TEDx:
Talks at The Shriram Millennium School Noida,
TEDx Lingaya University,
Institute of Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin,
Annual Guest Lecture, Lovely Professional University,
Bank Muscat, Muscat.
HSBC,
Nehru Centre, London,
Lovell Gallery, Cape Town,
Bank of India, New York,
WEF Delhi,
Brahmakumari Centre, Delhi
Outreach Programmes conducted at Arth – art for earth Corporates like Airtel, Maruti, etc.
besides several other venues globally.
Select nodal themes - International Editions
‘INNOVATION, INVENTION CREATIVITY’ | ‘THE ART OF NOT GIVING UP’ | “Beyond boundaries – the non limiting horizons” | “Green Entrepreneurship and Sustainability” | ‘How organisations can leverage Art to drive their Green agenda – Models that the artist has evolved and implemented in his art practices – innovative ways ahead.’ | Building bridges between people and nations through public and collaborative art practices and environment consciousness | “Multi disciplinary practices in art and culture ; the integrated and the holistic approach’ | “To be and why not to be…”the journey of a painter ,poet, philosopher, thinker. | ‘arth – art for earth’ | ‘taking art beyond art’ | “How can you be a Game Changer – Breaking Ground case studies’ | ‘unframed’ | ‘Desire & Destiny.’ And more.