Correct Option
The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
Syed Haider Raza (S.H. Raza) was a prominent modern Indian painter and a key figure in the evolution of Indian art in the post-independence era. He is best known for his transition from expressionist landscapes to geometric abstraction rooted in Indian philosophy.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: S.H. Raza was not a critic of the Progressive Artists' Group (PAG); rather, he was one of its founding members. The group was established in Bombay in 1947 to break away from the revivalist Bengal School and encourage an international avant-garde style. Other founders included F.N. Souza, K.H. Ara, and M.F. Husain.
- Statement 2 is Correct: While M.F. Husain remained primarily a figurative artist known for his narrative style and depictions of horses and human forms, S.H. Raza moved towards geometric abstraction. His work evolved to focus on pure shapes, colors, and the metaphysical aspects of nature, distinct from the figurative approach of his contemporaries.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The 'Bindu' (dot or point) became the central motif of Raza's work from the late 1970s onwards. He described the 'Bindu' as the seed of creation, the source of energy, and a symbol of oneness, drawing deeply from Indian metaphysical and Tantric philosophies.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway: S.H. Raza was a co-founder of the Progressive Artists' Group (1947) and is distinguished by his signature geometric abstract style centered around the concept of the 'Bindu' (Shunya/Void).