Larsen Warner is excited to present a solo exhibition of new paintings by the Indian painter Raghav Babbar, his first solo exhibition in Sweden. It follows on from his inclusion in the gallery's group exhibition The Body Electric earlier this year and features an important new body of figurative paintings.

Babbar’s portraits offer emotive snapshots of ordinary people, seen in commonplace moments and instances that might otherwise be overlooked. Pulling from films or his own photos and memories for reference, Babbar’s compositions powerfully capture expression in thick, textural layers of oil paint.

"I think people take the ordinary for granted when there is so much to enjoy and celebrate. If we take the time to look, we’ll pick up on beauty all around. That’s why I want to present everyday, normal, ordinary people and life events. Waiting in line for the shops, reading a book, taking the train, sitting with friends—it’s all fleeting moments that make up our days. They’re worth preserving and celebrating because they’re symbols of life."

Babbar has a profound and sophisticated ability to blend his Indian roots with a painterly sensibility deeply rooted in the western tradition. Each painting presented in Orchestrated Characters tell stories of Indian spirituality and heritage as well as reflecting his life in London where he now resides. With this captivating new body of work Babbar demonstrates an extraordinary ability to document the human condition with sensitivity, patience, and empathy. His paintings capture more than just a likeness, through a mastering of light and shadow and meticulous brushwork Babbar manages to capture the true essence of the people he portrays. 

The exhibition marks an important point for Babbar as he will be presenting his paintings on paper to the public for the first time. Historically for the artist these have been a truly private practice, a way to work through ideas, both formal and conceptual before transferring these onto canvas. Here they are presented together, six stunningly rendered portraits seemingly whispering to each other on the gallery wall. Using washes of oil paint and turpentine, Babbar quickly and elegantly builds the painterly surface, with each figure gradually appearing from within the mass of painterly marks. Orchestrated Characters offers a a unique opportunity for a Swedish audience to experience the incredible work of one of the most exciting young Contemporary artists working today.

Born in Rohtak, near Delhi, Babbar studied at Lasalle College of Art in Singapore and participated in a group exhibition at The Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore in 2019. After deferring his MFA offer at the Royal College of Art in London, he began his studies there in 2022. Raghav currently lives and works in London. Recent solo exhibition include Raghav Babbar: Layers of Life, Zuecca Projects, Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice, Italy (2023) and Raghav Babbar: New Paintings, Nahmad Projects, London, UK (2023). In December 2023 he presented new works at the ICA Miami, USA. Babbar was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list 2024 for the Arts in Asia which is a testament to his growing power and importance as an artist.