When art takes flight

Anjolie Ela Menon

Few people know that in addition to being the flag carrier airline of the country, Air India has also been an avid corporate collector of art since its inception. And now, they're throwing open the doors to their collection for public viewing, through an exhibition titled Dharohar-A Voyage Through 75 Years.

Air India building at Nariman Point

The collection, which offers a bird's-eye view of India's artistic legacy, showcases the range and depth of Indian art and sculpture. In addition to modern masters who combined classical artistic tradition with future-looking flair such as MF Hussain, VS Gaintonde, Tyeb Mehta, SH Raza, B Prabha, Arpana Caur, and Anjolie Ela Menon, the exhibition will also pay heed to India's folk traditions, with Madhubani, Warli, rabari embroidery, phulkari, kalamkari, phads and pichhwais. The purpose of this collection, according to the airline, was to preserve the country's rich artistic heritage while also patronising new and emerging talent through the years.

MF Hussain. Pics/Getty Images

Art lovers can also view delicate miniatures, of both Rajput and Mughal origins, which depict tales of kings and kingdoms, as well as vignettes of everyday life. The collection of sculptures includes metals, and rich wood and stone carvings. The antique clock and costume collections, in many ways, encapsulate the country's ever-evolving and diverse cultural legacy. The event, which starts later this week, will be inaugurated by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union civil aviation minister, and the launch will conclude with a film screening.

From: November 27
At: Air India Building, Nariman Point