IT’S a fine balance of finding way through the mundane. And then the magnificent happened. My daughter treated herself and me to “Phantom of the Opera.” We were riveted by the world-class production right in our backyard at NMACC. I will be “haunted” in a memorable way by the dramatic excellence in every tiny detail of the Magnum Opus. And the generosity of my kind young lady who took me for a Ramadan meal to satiate our love for good food for the soul.
Bombay Bourne
HOW could I feel voyeuristic, at the Mumbai Gallery at CSMVS, about a city that keeps me sensitively, subconsciously engaged to it in every eyeful? A nurturing megapolis that has migrants flocking to its stretched belly. I found myself looking, from the seeing eyes of what represents innate Bombay, and that birthed present-day Mumbai. I could relate to all of it. Hanging in with Valay Shende’s unmistakable installation through my lifeline of trains, a hat, water bottle, and “potis” (tote bags). I eye the drying “bombil” or Bombay Duck on the racks among the many other elements from food like vada-pao and bhel to the textiles.
There’s a condensed section on Bhanu Athaiya, the Oscar winner for costumes for the movie “Gandhi.” This was a comprehensive exhibition last year at Aguada Jail, Goa during a music festival. My mother used to reminisce fascinating folklore surrounding the Aguada Jail. It is now transformed into a museum. The cells hold interactive elements that make the information fun for visitors. The well-curated fusion music of Goa against the backdrop of a full moon, the beautifully lit location with waves of the Mandovi creating their own music, is a memory for keeps. As are the interiors of the jail, with cannons greeting you at the entrance of the picturesque location.
Querida Claudina
I HAVE been tying together the narrative of my mother. It is at the cusp of personal narratives and history. An epoch of belonging and the graceful shift to a new era. The befitting book in the making title is the salutation meaning “Dear Claudina” used by her aunts in the frequent postcard correspondence to bridge the divide.
“Family Matters” was a two-day workshop at CSMVS, took us through a deep dive into creating a journal dummy. It was a fulcrum that filtered my thoughts as I listened to the amazing stories of the other participants, each a unique stand-alone book in the making. Sorting the many images and objects of over a century, we found common ground in our desire to archive our legacy. It was a weekend of breaking bread over conversations in the warm verdant ground of the Children’s Museum.
Dreaming with Gieve
THE Memoriam to Gieve Patel “A Show of Hands” at the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF) at CSMVS reflects the bonding of veteran artists with Gieve 2024. Works like “Dreaming with Gieve” by Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh and Sudhir Patwardhan’s “Marine Drive 2024” brings out the essence of the much-loved versatile artist who passed away in 2023. Curated by Ranjit Hoskote, the exhibition is a tribute to artist Gieve Patel who passed away in 2023. Supported by Vadhera Art Gallery, it features works by artists Aditi Singh, Anju Dodiya, Atul Dodiya, Areez Katki, Biraaj Dodiya, Jitish Kallat, Mahesh Baliga, Nilima Sheikh, Ranbir Kaleka, Ratheesh T and Sujith SN.
Cities: Built, Broken
VADHERA Art Gallery presents the works of contemporary artist, Sudhir Patwardhan, at Jehangir Art Gallery. The veteran Mumbai-based artist whose work dwelt on construction in the city in the ‘80s and ‘90s now trains his canvas to reflect the obliteration of the landscape in the guise of development. His brush is sensitive to his surroundings conveyed by geometric abstractions and elements of daily life. The human presence in the equation acquires placement through his observations and precision as a “man of medicine.”
On till March 31
Lest We Forget
SHERWIN Crasto’s images of the ’92 riots at the Press Club Mumbai are powerful. Each of them subtly evokes the terse mood of the time while being exposed to unbelievable risks to life and integrity. I had to see them through his lens as we briefly worked together. To date, I remember his images at “The Independent” helmed by Dina Vakil at “TOI.” All hell broke loose literally when his images were published the next day. He was vindicated the next morning when Mukesh Parpiani, whose images are at the exhibition, published supporting visuals in “The Indian Express” to back his.
The images of veteran photo-journos on display are from the lens of Padmashri Sudharak Olwe. Gajanan Dhudhalkar, Rajesh Kakade, Neeraj Priyadarshini, Jai Prakash Kelkar, Datta Khedekar, Prakash Parsekar, Ashesh Shah and Akela Srinivas. These journalists were driven to reportage that defines media as a pillar of our democracy. The watchdog of our Constitution. And while there was an edge to get their publication the best capture, there was camaraderie in those rounds. This dedicated bunch used to instantly congregate, a landline call away, to get exclusives of cricketing legends as did sports journos whose bylines were the daily staple.
On till end-April
Walking the Weekend
I MADE it a walkthrough of sorts as I wended my way through the JJ School of Art grounds. The “Shifting Voices” exhibition has been extended and is a priceless opportunity to view exhibits that have emerged from the recesses of the institution and DAG. To round off “The City as a Museum” Art & Heritage Festival Edition 1, the narrative relevant to their current exhibition on Husain, DAG had a series of out-of-the-curriculum sites and archival experiences.
The grand finale was a magical iftaar gathering on the terrace of Mohammedi Manzil, Mohammed Ali Road, and the conversation with Sarover Zaidi, Naheed Carmine and Avijit Mukul Kishore. Naheed provided a touch of humour about her tenants, including the bustling Ruhani restaurant, which dubbed her as Shakespeare’s Shylock when she came to collect the errant rent.
Sarnath Banerjee one of the panelists who stayed in the interesting mix of tenants in the building had some of his works at BDL in 2018 at Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. The building features in his sketches. Before the panel, the iftaar broke bread with stringy cheese, dates, fresh and dry fruit, an apricot taster drink and chai. I skipped the Bohri thal, a curated platter of food shared by 6-8 persons. It alternates sweet and savoury for the entrees, with unlimited mains — usually a fragrant, long-stem rice biryani, followed by portioned desserts. I would not recommend missing out on an invite as the cuisine selection is a gourmet repast that is crafted to order.
Dagad II
DAGAD II Oblivious Grounds showcases the installation and works of Swapnil Shivaji Godase at Nine Fish curated by Urvi Chheda. Gourmoni who I have dubbed as “the spirit of the mountains” and, the exhibition’s artistic director brings a breath of fresh air to the art space. The mediums of copper, steel, aluminum objects and natural elements are used to question whether we notice the changes to the land around us, or has our gaze become oblivious? The exhibition focuses on the materiality used in form and technique for representation.
Dagad II collates site-specific works, wall metal repousse and a sound installation to collectively relay Swapnil’s observations. The politics of cartography uses “Dagad” — a pared-down four-sided triangle that traces the displacement of the area be it a pebble, stone or mountain.
Women Brushstrokes
I DID visit “Scarecrow” for an all-women artists exhibition “In Her Own Words” – A celebration of women through art was a corporate setting, framing works by RPR Gallery, B Prabha, Anjali Ila Menon, Kiyomi Talaulikar, Anshu Pancholi, Jaya Baheti, Ritu Jain, Ami Patel, Vinita Dasgupta, Sonali Iyengar and Madhulika Jha. Each artist brings her unique perspective, exploring themes of womanhood, fantasy, strength and emotion.
On till April 7