Art and Culture has never had it better. Be it fine collection of antiques that go under the hammer at Astaguru’s Opulent Heritage Auction or rare artworks, fragile with time, the cash counter rings with delight. The curations around iconic deities in sculpture, and glass painting or calendar art beckoned a visit on Janmashtami.
IT’S Janmasthami. I hold my breath at the daring of droves of colour coordinated teams, comfortable in their well rehearsed pyramid formation. There are buses, that do the rounds of dahi handi, strung lower this year at regular intervals in the streets of Mumbai. It is the abandon with which they whizz past you astride railings of tempos, trucks and bikes minus helmets, which call for a prayer, as the rain and the curd in the broken handi make a slippery descent. Roving cameras capture the cheering crowds and the local neta presiding from Vikhroli to Chembur.
Lalbaug is also gearing for max city’s favourite Vighnaharta. The mood is upbeat and competitive. Bandra has its Hill Road closed to traffic with the same teams crossing the road to vie for the bountiful prize money. Then is the ecstasy of holding the cherubic blue baby Krishna idol on the coveted trophies. Spotting the ingeniously decorated handi is reward in itself as I recollecting the simplicity of yesteryear to the tune of “Govinda aala re, aala!”
Culture Continuum
CONVERSATIONS that include the views of all stakeholders is a vital aspect to create a grid to support the evolving art and culture space and optimise the functioning of creative economies. Policy making is vital to this burgeoning world. The magnitude of loss to the GDP of economies highlights the significance of this sector.
You know that the learning never stops and goes a step further with Asad’s Avid Learning Team and Sanjoy Roy, FICCI collaborating. At the symposium held at the Essar Hq on 24th August were senior representatives of the Tourism Ministry and UNESCO in dialogue with the creative, festival curators, educators and technology leaders. The panels on trends that are here to stay with AI holding prime attention fulfil the need of the hour
The camaraderie between the panellists set the tone for meaningful discussions with suggestions taken in bonhomie for consideration. Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture (GOI), shared that India as host for G20 suggest that the SDGs should include culture as the 18th goal. As of now 11 of the 17 goals have culture embedded in them in one way or the other. The torch has been relayed to Brazil for the next summit.
The focus sought is to achieve self reliance for India. This entails protecting its cultural wealth through mapping, innovation and schemes to support and protect the sector. It is envisioned that creative start-ups will then enhance their exports to international markets. The film industry has taken off and now is the turn for the music industry and other disciplines to foray as an international equal on the global stage.
For Art Stalkers
TIP: Call before you decide to visit a gallery. I landed at Dr Bhau Daji Lad at Byculla on a Wednesday, which is the weekly day off, and later headed to the Anupa Mehta Gallery at Colaba presenting the show was closed. Earlier in the week the Gogi Saroj collection was being moved in the DAG 2 gallery at Taj Palace Mumbai. Thankfully there is so much you can catch up on. I dive into the book “Gogi Saroj Pal: Mythic Feminities” at DAG 1 which provides insights into her life and work. ‘Mind over matter’ is what you learn from this indomitable, irreprehensible artist who uses her Art to express anguish.
DAG Mumbai
GOGI passed on two months before this exhibition, her second solo with DAG since 2011. The symbolism, expression and irreverence are best seen in her self-portraits that wear each of her earlier depictions. It is decades of constant search to relay her fiercely feminist Identity and her commentary on its reality in society brought out through Visual Art.
DAG’s current exhibition “Kali: Reverence & Rebellion” delivers on the promise of another meticulously put together well-researched collection that is brought to Mumbai from their Delhi Gallery. The spotlight is on women’s power or nari shakti with Shiva lying benignly below the feet of Kali, a form of Goddess Durga (his consort Parvati). It is mythology brought to life with the entire celestial incarnations depicted. As expected the curation bears the signature of impeccable curation. The recording of Gayatri Sinha’s walkthrough is on my weekend playlist.
NGMA
THERE are more feminine narratives relayed through art, inspired by the “Ramayan” at the NGMA, Mumbai. The Tapestry at 1st level sums up the curation. In May 2022 was a retrospective of Rini Dhumal’s “Shakti.” More power to women as we have the second level of the gallery celebrating “Shakti” by multiple veteran women artists. The artworks are spectacular from a spectrum of watercolours, oils and embroidery. The larger-than-life canvas “Tree of Life” by Seema Kohli stands tall in overwhelming abundance.
The gallery has hosted a slew of retrospectives, more recently the nature-inspired works of Rumale Chennabasaviah. The much-awaited Air India collection and the textile narrative of Sutr Santati earlier were both extended due to popular demand.
Printmaking Art
NOTHING prepares you for the conglomeration of printmaking artworks of 184 artists on display at the old-world charm of Nine Fish Art Gallery, Byculla. Dot Line Space delivers on its purpose statement to provide a total platform to create, curate, collaborate and celebrate Art. “Inherited Impressions” curated by Anant Nikam and Gourmani Das is a discovery channel. On display is an immense talent that Das has tirelessly sought to represent in each artist’s work in this art genre.
What holds your attention is the selection from the XAL Praxis portfolio by Pheroza Godrej. This was a printmaking movement that held roost in the early 1990s. Pheroza, the founder of Cymroza Gallery and Modern Master Akbar Padamsee, were instrumental to the thriving XAL Praxis foundation. The initiative to have this collection brought to the public domain serves as a big boost to its legacy being carried forward.
Printmaking in India originates with the first printing press set up by the Portuguese in Goa. The history of how printing took off in the Indian sub-continent is fascinating. Books were illustrated and are the precursors of what came to be recognised as art about 80 years ago.
PrintAdda the community printmaking studio by Dot Line Space Art Foundation works at combining the legacy of traditional printmaking and experimentation to foster the spirit of modern artistry and techniques.
Living Life XXL
THE Art sensory experience stays with you. One such that tied elements in sync with the ethos of the art was at the preview of “Witness and Evidence: Deliberations on Ruins” by Sajid Wajid Shaikh and Jofre Oliveras, in May, at XXL gallery Colaba. The eclectic sound by Kiss Nuka (Anouskha) was an interpretation that goes to show that multi-disciplines go hand-in-hand. Their perspectives lead to infinite creative outcomes that stimulate your mind. The vibe at the gallery attracts the new age crowd and comes alive, particularly for ANT.
The current exhibition, “The Desired Scaffold” by the nine artists, “is a proposition for unearthing desires that are hidden, barely understood or spoken about, but exist and continue to unfurl in our engagement with architectures we inhabit.” The curatorial note states, “The artists used the gallery as a site to extend on an investigation of the ruins that are around us, and the ruins that are far away but continue to surround us.
The artworks use a variety of mediums from textile to photography to canvas, to 3D installations to lumination behind the artwork, at two intervals drawing you to tune in anticipation.