Art no longer caters only to the elite, at least in Mumbai. The presence of new spaces and galleries have contributed immensely in redefining the city's art scene. Today, art is more accessible to the general public and Art Night Thursday is one of those novel concepts, which lets you immerse yourself in art, traversing the underbelly of South Mumbai. All you need is an art map of South Mumbai and a pair of flats, as there is a lot of walking involved!
Jai 'Zaiu' Ranjit who has been conducting the gallery hop feels that this is a new chapter for art enthusiasts. "With over a dozen art galleries scattered in and around the Kala Ghoda vicinity, South Mumbai makes for the perfect 'art crawl' destination," gushes the artist. "I figured that most people are too afraid of the 'intellectual' nature of art galleries. By taking people along with me, I make the art gallery a little less intimidating—by explaining art in simpler terms through a split in technique, style, medium and possible reflections, I help the participants engage with art," adds the self-taught artist.
A typical art crawl starts at the Jehangir Art Gallery—if you want to grab a quick bite before it all begins, head to Café Samovar for mutton samosas and sandwiches accompanied with hot chai. Participants can then explore the exhibitions in the Kala Ghoda vicinity before proceeding to the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), which is a stone's throw away.
Last week's gallery hop highlights included Ali Akbar Mehta's Site: Stage: Structure at Clark House Initiative. The displayed artworks showcased accounts that do not enter a formal narrative; installations that integrated books, objects, photographs and short films documenting the changing landscape of Mazgaon where Mehta's grandparents lived for 42 years.
Lakeeren (www.lakeerengallery.com) at Colaba showcased Drawings From The Present by Brooklyn-based contemporary artist Chitra Ganesh. Sakshi Art Gallery at Colaba had a screening of Yves Klein, La Revolution Bleue by French director-writer Francois Levy Kuentz. The gallery hop ended at Chatterjee & Lal, where Delhi-based artist Gagan Singh's solo debut show Line Bombs opened.
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