The Kala Ghoda area has always an art enthusiast’s delight. The area is dotted with galleries - and of course some of the best art is found in the open air pavement exhibitions.
The main display of the KGF was a giant white sukhoi like aircraft right outside Rythm House. I am sure that there was deep underlying meaning to it, but it somehow escaped me!
At the pavement art gallery - there was the very interesting “This revolution is for Display” - a kind of fond look back memory lane - with posters, slogans and images of revolution. The “in Dog we Trust” was an artisitic comment on the of the killing of street dogs in Mumbai - little stuffed dogs on the pavement representing their real life counterparts.
The foot by foot exhibition put up by the Tao Art Gallery was striking. 50 artists given a canvas, a foot by a foot, to paint. And the gallery itself, prices art by the foot. An interesting marketing concept. And, this is mainly stuff that will look good on walls -I am not so sure about the ‘art’ part of it, but it is ‘pretty’ stuff.
The exhibit that struck me most was the sculputer “She Smoker” - for obvious reasons. A set of hands holding a variety of smokes - from beedis to cigarette butts - it seemed to be a comment on the attitudes towards women smoking.
The Bodhi Art Gallery carried a lovely set of prints by Zarine Hashmi in an exhibition entitled “Weaving Memory” . A US based artist, her medium is paper. And she uses a of lines and calligraphy in her work. In this particular exhibtion she explores living spaces - there are a set of wonderful floor plans and maps that she has has created.
visitors seeing a set of exhibits at the “weaving memory” exhibition
The “Alternate Shapes of Earth” exhibits - was a set of 5 large, blue differently shaped globes. A call for a more tolerance in dealing with differences.
My favourite caption on an exhibition, however, was that at the “Only Tangibles” display. It said that the display is “aimed at showcasing two and three dimensional works, which are not only restricted in size and can fit an average apartment of an urban home or office”. Straight and to the point - and they didn’t even use the word art.
a pencil for your office or home
The street exhibition around Jahangir was interesting. My favourite exhibit was a giant painted umbrella. Very Gauginesque.
Art Quest had a striking display of very retro and filmy furniture. Lots of reds and earths in their work. Very bright and attractive display. They had a lovely little bar that i coveted from afar !
All in all - good stuff all around. Pictures will be up soon.up now.
