Dinesh Vazirani and his team created ART MUMBAI as a melting pot to bring together diversities across multiple forms of art and to serve as a platform to project Mumbai as a showcase for India’s cultural diversity. This week, in its second edition, the fair will play host to a larger group of international and Indian galleries, across a larger space of 2,00,000 square feet at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. (Story by: Ela Das)
Updated On: 2024-11-10 03:36 PM IST
Compiled by : Joy Manikumar
Ashvita’s, Chennai: The Madras Art Movement emerged in the early 1960s as a search for authenticity in modernism derived largely from South India’s cultural heritage. It put forth an empirical and perceptual approach to art making, and axed the colonial pedantry of human form study based on classical statuary. Featuring works by artists such as P. Perumal, Achuthan Kudallur and AP Santhanraj, this exhibit highlights some of the artists that shaped this movement with their rich individual artistic vocabularies
47-A, Mumbai: “As a border state, Kachchh (Kutch) has always been a gateway for culture and craft through folk who came by land and sea from Africa, the Middle East and the Swat Valley. Today, the region is ripe with crafts and textiles, which have evolved over time. To truly honour what the local artisans do, it is essential to also help them transform and change in order to keep their skills alive—to make them relevant and truly in demand,” explains Srila Chatterjee, founder of 47-A
Akara Contemporary, Mumbai: In a contemporary show with a select few modern works, Akara’s contemporary booth comprises three young artists who will be showcasing their work in the city for the first time. While Sri Lankan London-based artist Arjuna Gunarathne’s neon-hued canvases echo a nuanced exploration of community dynamics and the experience of loneliness; in contrast, Mumbai-based visual artist Saanthia Bulchandani’s pen-and-ink drawings explore themes of domesticity and solitude; and Vadodara-based Yogesh Rai’s graphite-on-paper symbolism, visual metaphor and direct representation expresses thoughts often considered taboo by societal norms
Ben Brown Fine Arts, London: Showcasing works by Pablo Picasso, François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, the exhibit brings together a variety of mediums from these master artists at different stages of their careers. “[This selection highlights] various movements in art history, including pieces such as Indiana’s LOVE motif, one of the most recognisable icons of the Pop Art movement, alongside Warhol’s vibrant portraits and a spin painting by Hirst.” shares Hugo Cobb, head of sales and senior director at Ben Brown Fine Arts, London
Rossi & Rossi, Hong Kong: In his debut in the city, Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa brings a powerful showcase that bridges his traditional Himalayan Buddhist training with contemporary visual language. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Sherpa began learning thangka painting from his father at a young age, a foundation he later expanded in California, where he began reimagining and transforming traditional Himalayan motifs. His ‘Spirit’ series, inspired by Himalayan myths and folklore, reflects a blend of past heritage and modern identity, capturing the collective psyche of the Himalayan diaspora in vivid, contemporary portraits. The ‘Protector’ series, meanwhile, draws from Buddhist protector iconography. Here, Sherpa abstracts and reinterprets traditional forms, exploring new meanings within these age-old symbols. His work challenges fixed interpretations, balancing binaries—sacred and secular, traditional and modern—while inviting viewers to project their own interpretations onto his fluid, evolving forms
