THIS Art Night Thursday (ANT) the galleries in Mumbai are on fire. Each one has a spectacular curation. There are a dozen previews among the 28 participating galleries. While it is doors open till late hours every second Thursday of the month, yet the extended hours just falls short for the gallery hop. The route is compelling, the mind is willing. September 12, ‘24 is one action packed day!!
Ballard Estate beckons
I HAVE been waiting to visit my oxygen chamber, the heritage pocket of Mumbai’s Ballard Estate. It has been a while since I have soaked in the immaculate finish of architecture meeting fine art at Galerie Isa. It is a delight to view the restored Kamani Chambers space providing the perfect foil to the finesse of the large format art works in varied mediums.
In fact the play of light and reflection on the gleaming marble takes the exhibition to another level. Ashwin Thadani handpicks international artists and the results are stunning. Be it David Briansmith, Louise Despont, nature in architecture, David Murphy, Arthur Lemuire, Ricky Vasan, Antonio Santini’s laborious technique to achieve his carpet folds or the “Homecoming” of California- based Anuskha Mirchandani.
“What Is Possible…What Is Promised,” curated by Dexter Wimberly is the current exhibition. It has Gregor Hilderbrant, Gabriel Mills, new exhibits from Rasna Kaur and one by Emile Pugh who have exhibited before. A must visit.
On till October 28
Come September
SEPTEMBER has a double whammy for the area which nestles the pioneering art family of Pundole. Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke’s “Incarnate,” a brilliant representation by nine master artists. The curatorial note by Ranjana Steinruecke prepares you for Indian art awash with images of deities and demons post-Independence. Her surprise at our early bird visit instantly gives way to her showing us (the best way to view a gallery) the exhibits before enthusiastic ANT visitors make their way.
You find a brilliant representation and epic work of MF Hussain, Jogen Chowdhury, Atul Dodiya NS Harsha (Brush drawing Sleeping Figures I-IV 2003), Gieve Patel’s charcoal skulls hanging, Arpita Singh’s vibrant colours in Lotus, 2003 (mixed media on paper), Nilima Sheikh’s seemingly demure earthy rendition.
The opening exhibit Bhupen Khakhar’s Ram Bhakt Hanuman 1998 watercolour on paper is what got art critic Geeta Kapur to summarise her perspective of man’s primal and existential need. The context for Atul Dodiya’s Houseboat (2000) from his series “Tearscapes” is the observation by Raniit Hoskote, who in his essay writes about the personifications of the Indian nation-state in this series. It is also what makes a visit imperative.
I can’t help being transfixed with Siji Krishnan’s 2012 Lovers, a tall vertical watercolours on rice paper which draws you in communion with nature. There is another titled “Doctor” but any semblance to glorious nature is a draw for me.
On till October 10, 2024
Logistically Speaking
SURMOUNTING the odds of a visit to the far outskirts of Mumbai and making it to downtown via the Eastern Express freeway, I feel I have earned my reward. Small wonder I have this bounce in my step and wear this intoxicated, happy grin! The bumpy ride and rain are not a damper. The dizzying view of many flyovers and freeways encourage what would otherwise seem foolhardy on a day marked for Gauri immersion.
Thankfully while transport is at a surge, it is available. We head to the suburbs for something I had earmarked a while back. When master networker Manoj Gursahani curates an event, it calls for a red circle.
The Twilight Connection
I ENGAGE this madcap rick driver who is pleased as punch that he has flown through the 101 lanes filled with traffic capillaries on the Western Express Highway to bring us (in one piece) for the launch of “Twilight Chronicles — A journey through India, Nepal and Sri Lanka” authored by Daniela Sezonov-Tane, Romanian Ambassador to India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The power packed women panel discussion is steered by Sangeeta Wadhwani, celebrity writer among a host of her varied creative pursuits. Nandita Puri, author and chairperson, Om Puri Foundation and Swati Pandey, filmmaker and conservationist pitch in. Senior journo Amy Fernandes is the chief guest for the evening.
Shashi Tharoor sums the book in these words, “Far from seeking to reduce India to a few hundred pages, Tane strives to paint an exquisite portrait of this country as she sees it. Unblinkered by prejudice of any sort; in so doing she personalises India, weaving the yarn of a country that, though not hers by birth, she has made her own by empathetically trying to understand it.”
Tane brings fresh perspectives to the jaded view of the peninsula. It is almost as if an anthropological overview has been internalised while she nudges your attention to the changes with her narration. It’s an objective third eye that contextualises the role of ethnocentricity. A case in point would be the practice of Buddhism, to exemplify how religions undergo and absorb the native influences in different countries. She highlights the importance of retention of language and staying the course to keep languages from dying or getting oversimplified.
Tane shared how the challenge of translating her book from Romanian to English resulted in significant parts of it being dropped. Her engagement with Eastern culture is more about the heart emotion. Significantly, she brings home the metaphor of twilight wherein we lead a pseudo-spiritual existence and consumerism. Rather the emphasis has to be embracing mother nature and sustainable aspects of lifestyle and tourism.
Tane concludes her mission to the sub-continent in a few weeks. Clearly the sub-continent has forged a long connection which her and will bring her back.
Art & Week Ahead
THE woods are lovely, dark and deep and I have promises to keep and many galleries to visit and revisit. On the “Must Do” list is Chemould Prescott for their “Biophilia” by Gigi Scaria walkthrough by Nancy Adajania coming up on the 14th as well as the refreshing Chemould Collab’s “Mind-Echo.”
Weekend sorted, I have an abundance to catch up with this week: Experimenter’s Muqaddimah by Aziz Hazara, Chatterjee & Lal, Sakshi, Apre, Gallery Maskara, Jhaveri Contemporary’s “Avan Lapli” by Shiraz Bayjoo , Anupa Mehta, Art Musings and Project 88 in the Fort, Colaba and deep SoBo circuit. Back to more central Mumbai would be 47A, Tao, Art & Soul, Method for their latest curations. More and lots more about this season soon.