Harshvardhan Sharma is a distinguished contemporary Indian painter, educator, and art administrator whose contribution to visual arts spans several decades. A graduate of Visva-Bharati University, he has developed a distinctive artistic language characterized by vibrant colours, expressive forms, and a deep engagement with cultural narratives.
Widely recognized for his innovative approach to painting, Shri Sharma’s works have been exhibited across India and internationally, earning him acclaim as an artist of significant stature. He served as Dean and Head of the Department of Visual Arts at Central University of Himachal Pradesh, where he played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging artists and advancing art education. A senior artist of international repute, he has also contributed to national cultural initiatives and served in advisory roles within prominent art institutions.
We invited Shri Harshvardhan Sharma to be part of Similipal Sketches because he carried a quiet strength and gentle warmth that touched everyone in the gathering. His presence lingered like the air itself—subtle yet deeply felt—woven into our laughter, silences, and shared spirit of discovery.
Shri Adwaita Gadanayak is one of India’s most accomplished contemporary sculptors, internationally recognized for his monumental public artworks and his contribution to the promotion of visual arts. Born in Dhenkanal, Odisha, he received formal training in sculpture at B.K. College of Art & Crafts, Bhubaneswar, and furthered his studies at the Slade School of Fine Art, London. His artistic practice seamlessly blends India’s rich sculptural traditions with a contemporary visual language, resulting in works of profound cultural and spiritual resonance.
Shri Gadanayak is the creator of several iconic national monuments, including the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March installation at Rajghat, and the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Kartavya Path. He served as Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), where he led significant national and international cultural initiatives. A recipient of the Padma Shri, he has played a pivotal role in elevating India’s artistic presence on the global stage while inspiring generations of artists through his creative vision and leadership.
We invited Shri Adwaita Gadanayak to be part of Similipal Sketches because his presence at Barehipani carried a rare sense of oneness. The waterfall seemed to receive him not with arrogance but with harmony, as if stones and water themselves cherished the moment.
