Pianist Linda for Puccini
AM I imagining that the universe collided to gift us with so many centennials in the field of arts and music this year? Creators who have swept us off our feet and regaled our senses for the turn of the century. Centenario Pucciniano Una Notte Con Le Sue Grandi Arie was a regal evening of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s Operatic Greatest Arias brought to us by the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai, Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Mumbai, Mehli Mehta Music Foundation, Furtados, The Royal Opera House, Mumbai, and Avid Learning on November 29. The concert which collided with his death anniversary, commemorated Puccini’s 100th birth anniversary, this month, December 22.
ROH was the perfect setting for the romance and magic of Italy’s finest voices. Maria Pia Piscetelli, Soprano, crowned the performance with her renditions. It was as if the auditory range was captured to ignite the highest pitch of human hearing that Puccini’s genius requires. Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme acquired silken fluidity as her mellifluous notes reigned. The baritone of Pier Luigi Dilengite and the resounding tenor of Renzo Julian took over to the glory of the era of the restored landmark now the cultural crown of the city. The powerhouse trio accompanied by Linda Di Carlo got them a standing ovation. Encore Asad and team for this magnificent Night of the Greatest Aria. Bravo!
My thoughts went to the benefactor of Avid Learning, Shashikant Ruia, chairman of the Essar Group who passed November 25, 2024. The music to me was a tribute to one whose vision encompassed community building. May his legacy live on.
All We Imagine As Light
I CELEBRATED Movie Day on Dec 2, with this exceptional Cannes winner in Malayalam. It is a sensitively made film of the ordinary lives of migrant workers in Mumbai that we have grown to see through. It is as if they are invisible in our routines and this accurate capture jolts us out of our reverie. Brilliant acting and narration.
Bull’s Eye
TARANA Khubchandani’s Gallery Art & Soul celebrated 20 years on September 17, 2024. Two decades have flown by for the writer who announced the space over a double spread in “The Times of India” and there has been no looking back for the lady. Since September Tarana’s team has had 5 major showings, “The Bone Flower” Group Show at IAF Delhi, “Mapping Staples Dust & Ancestry” by Revati Sharma Singh at Singapore, Sujata Bajaj’s “Spacescapes” at Art Mumbai, Vinita Karim at Hirji, JAG, Mumbai and Satish Gupta’s “One Note of Zen,” large formats at Snowball studios, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
Ajay De has perfected his technique using the medium of charcoal without any brush. The medium is the reverse for most lay people who would think that the artwork is at the finished stage, De’s mastery of the desired smudge effect created with his hands comes into play. His fingers flourish the fine lines.
“Imagination meets the surreal, intricate world of charcoal, the most profound and emotive form of my art unfolds in the dance of light and shadow,” is how De sums his process, medium and outcome. The exhibition entitled Bull & Horse that fills the gallery draws context from its suitability to the medium of charcoal.
From his modest beginnings when he did a back cover for “Reader’s Digest,” De has created his niche. He refused to be discouraged when he was told that his black-and-white format “chalenga nahi.”
The vernissage was followed by a sumptuous, traditional Bengali-style lunch to celebrate the artist’s heritage and legacy. The entire art brigade showed up to support the genial charcoal master.
Fun Fact: Ajay draws inspiration for his pops of red from his mother-in-law’s use of vermillion on her head.
On view till December 31, 2024
Surreal Art Vibes
GAYATRI Ruia, connoisseur and collector of fine art, shared how the commonality of their passion for art got her husband Atul to surprise her with the Cosmic Rhinoceros by Salvador Dali on a trip to Singapore. Gayatri emphasized how it is important to have art in the public domain, a sentiment I resonate with. Some efficient legwork from Astaguru, (the auction house) and the Spaniard’s fascination with the conical horned animal, found its way to The Palladium. This bronze sculpture wears the unique stamp of Dali — fantasy in hand with his keen sense of science. A pyramid of sea urchins stacked on the exaggerated, long-legged Rhino heightens the paradox of what we know to be an imposing mammal. It takes a Dali to get a Rhino to stand tall in style.
The extension of the Ruia home, the Palladium, houses the giant work in the lobby among the many art objects by Jayesh Sachdev’s shiny sculptures, Valay Shende’s Mumbai Train, and his truck rolls over to be viewed by newer audiences. More power to patrons of art in public spaces. May your tribe increase.
Transitory Corridor, Permanent Roots
FROM viewing the master of surrealism we head to Jaideep Mehrotra’s walkthrough of his exhibition “Passage Ephemerale” at Tao Art Gallery. Jaideep is at his elemental best as he runs through his well-documented practice over the years. He took to the digital revolution like the proverbial fish. He innovated his earlier format to lead his evolving journey to immersive art.
With gentle jabs on his Apple watch, he projected the many layers that went into installations that loop in detail and gradually zoom out to form a composite picture in picture. He shares his experimentation with multimedia and his commentary on his environment. His passion for the imprints of human history uses the art of cartography and the science of navigation to relate the narrative.
The exhibition houses another senior artist, Anju Chaudhari, based in Paris. Her work and distinctive style in an appealing palette stand beside the statements that Jaideep’s artworks voice. Jaideep’s vibrant canvas wears stark black and white or standalone pink, green or bright yellow, steel imprints and pops of his new type of metallic paint. Anju makes the paper she uses for her artworks and shares the narrative of multiculturalism
On view till December 8.
Rose in Ballard Estate
BALLARD Estate has a glorious look. Rose, the company of ultra-luxe watches and bespoke jewellery has turned the heritage area into something you stand and stare at. The windows of the beautifully restored Darashaw Building sport works of art by the brands they represent. The home brand carries its ornate gem creation followed by the iconic Frank Muller jumping time watch. The limited edition pieces with many complications spring to life literally at each hour and wear numbers in a chic yet playful font. The art displays are an ode to the journey of horology and the concept of each brand that will adorn the heritage windows. The decor of the maison is the perfect showcase for the world’s most desired brands. Do you really need to visit Baselworld?
Contours of Identity
FNS . Avinash Chandra DAG. The current showing pays homage to two masters born between the two World Wars. Francis Newton Souza and the younger Avinash Chandra. They bonded in the ‘60s in London and were the best-known Indian artists there.
The contrast in their treatment of still life with their notably distinctive styles, their commonality of subject lay in their bold explorations of sexuality. Nature and Souza’s subjects are composed with his black lines to bring their geometric abstraction, Souza’s symbolism of objects and landscapes are embedded in his roots or origin in Goa. His belligerent expression often betrays a man who was discontent with the mediocre. He looked beyond to satiate this need and continued to paint undaunted by superficial detraction.
Both artists underlined the contextualization of their cultural identity in a lexicon that the West embraced while also displaying techniques of the East. The plus of being able to express their artistry freely was coupled with biased expectations harking to their origin.
Their subjects seem like an analogy, take for instance Souza’s “Heads.” Chandra used trees, objects in a shape resembling a head as if it were containers of his thoughts. With so much of their artworks on display at the DAG Mumbai Gallery, you see the honesty of the artists, particularly the centennial Souza whose works continue to bewilder the viewer even today. It was Ebrahim Alkazi who did a retrospective of Souza in Delhi and at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in 1987. Tates 2005 retrospective is a recognition of the genius of Souza. His “Black” series is about Souza breaking away to explore a plane beyond. The spirit and artistry of the men will continue to keep academicians agog for the century ahead.
DAG’s presence at Art Mumbai by sheer display space spoke for itself. The exquisite works from the 18th C to the 20th C by Modern Masters and the stunning national treasure of Jamini Roy made a statement that sets the benchmark in the art world.
For those who can make it the “Contours of Identity” is a compelling collection. It is an exhibition that celebrates 100 years of FN Souza, founder of the Progressive Art Group, and pairs him with his fellow émigré artist. Head there!
On till January 3, 2025
Italian Beauty Amerigo Vespucci visits Mumbai
BOMBAY port was in flux over what is regarded as the most beautiful ship in the world. While I meant to watch the ship sail, enjoy the performances and the village created for the event, I am content to share the image of the ship being welcomed to the port. Mumbaikars made a beeline for the beauty docked at Green Gate, Ballard Estate. Arrivederci!
December Countdown
AND finally, the Bandra store Damian has got its Christmas Decor up to usher in the festive month of December! For those planning on making dodol and perada this week happy stirring!