UNLEASH your sensory sensibilities! The October spell of weather is upon us this November. The coolest way to usher in the warmth of the Art Mumbai month is to let your love for art take over. It was a tough call to choose between the umpteen previews this week. How do you reconcile with each stupendous effort that came far and fleetingly in between, say about a decade back?
The Wonderland of Art
THIS week particularly belonged to those visiting Mumbai for Max C’s very own festival. It’s the city’s way of showing a warm welcome, not ostentatious, meaningful, in true Bombay-style. The platform’s great success in its 1st year was to showcase comprehensively in all dimensions of the domain. So when Dinesh and Minal took the second edition many notches higher, you just put on your walking shoes and headed to the Mahalaxmi Race Course; on till November 17.
It’s a tight walk as I reached Mumbai late in the evening on the inaugural day festivities including the ramp flamboyant fiesta by Tarun Tahiliani. But it’s the baby steps of Mom that rewarded me two months after surgery. But first things first. As Thursday gets advanced to Tuesday extended hours.
Mumbai’s Art Feast
I DECIDED to set off early to max my Aladdin lamp this Tuesday, November 12. I smelled paint and hurried finishing touches as the entire fraternity depends on the same resources and specific vendors to put together their meticulous curations. It’s also the joy of absorbing the process of finishing up before the works revel in the chosen finery of placement.
The beauty about previews is you get that vibe where the artist is equally excited about walking you through the works. The logistics and demography usually decide the route, it is best to make peace with what is possible. Almost every gallery is collateral to pave way for the preview for Art Mumbai from November 14-17.
Art Tuesday
TO make the shift on the ANT hop circuit happen you have to decide the starting point. All else on your route that happens is the bonus. In my case it was BDL at Byculla and the finish line for me that was the most thought provoking relay literally from the materiality, the ashes of the granaries of India in Punjab and Haryana. Mirchandani and Ranjana Steinreuke present their discovery, artist Kulpreet Singh’s “Indelible Black Marks.”
I had to hold the overwhelming emotion of the swooping, stark black and white video looped in. While the body blow sensory did not include smell, I could feel the suffocation as the big black clouds of field ablaze with burning stubble disrupt and shift you to the discomfort of reality at the space at Gallerie Steinrucke + Mirchandani. It is what has given art its purpose down time immemorial. Impact, expression of the now while recording history and making a statement to change with action. Art as the custodian, lest we forget.
Back to the starting point
“One Hundred Thousand Suns,” Rohini Devasher’s solo exhibition has the debut screening of four channel video installation in India, at the Special Project Space, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. The immersive exhibition is presented in collaboration with Project 88.
I reproduce the curatorial note. “The focal point of the exhibition, Devasher’s One Hundred Thousand Suns explores four distinct dimensions of the sun: material, ephemeral, personal and geographic. Driven by more than 157,000 portraits of our nearest star, observed over 120 years, this audio visual work centers on the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory in India, where every day since 1901 staff have recorded images of the sun.
Through the observatory’s archival material, combined with public domain images from NASA and the artist’s own data – photographs, drawings, videos, and interviews with eclipse chasers – Devasher explores the complexities of observational astronomy.
Devasher’s Sol Drawings, Shadow Portraits and Skywatch, a series of embellished copper works, adorned with markings are also inspired by solar phenomena. It lies at the intersections of science, art, and philosophy. The young artist has received several accolades and has exhibited extensively.
Royal Collections
PUNDOLE doesn’t just put up a viewing for each of their auctions. Each collection carries key insights into the well researched antiquities that make for watertight Provenance. The latest is “Heavenly and Earthly Delights” Indian Classical Paintings & Royal Delights. Dr Usha Balakrishnan, Indian art and jewellery historian, delved deep into each painting and object. As she detailed the magnificent royal treasures she highlighted how functionality was elevated to design splendour.
It is a privilege to witness artefacts that were crafted circa the 18-19 century. To marvel at the finesse of the bejewelled hukka with equally intricate designs in enamel and other forms at the base. To see the inner lid of an object used by the Mughals adorned with a scene depicting Krishna. These were most likely crafted by the Rajput and Pahrai royal artisans.
The scholarly practices were further dwelt on by Sarang Sharma in a Q&A with Rob Dean. The rich heritage of Indian crafts leaves you in awe. For those interested each of these talks can be viewed on You Tube.
Gallerie Isa
ASHWIN Thadani has mastered the art of bringing to the city artists who bring spectacular art to the city in large format. The latest is 30 years young Arthur Lemaitre’s “Could it just be an Illusion?” Just go and be spellbound by the intersection of fabulous art in a restored Gothic space.
I have covered just the tip of the stupendous curations in the heritage precincts of Ballard Estate. The big formats, the research, the presentations, the hospitality, in short the huge ascent of the world of art that was considered the esoteric reach of a few, now inclusive in all aspects. What I manage to soak in fills every fibre of my being. If only I had wings for my wish list! But then you have a week window, at least, to make up. Not a task for the weak willed for sure!
A lot of catching up to do in my thirst of art is life and the art of living. Art Mumbai here I come. More and lots more to share dear readers. Watch out for more in Mumbai’s Mecca of Art as they have the best of offsite and onsite curations at Mahalakshmi. Till then a BIG shout out to my angels who just manifest!
(Cover image sent by Founders Art Mumbai)