An
ongoing exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art showcases 128 years of
the Bombay Art Society’s journey
A
unique ongoing exhibition brings together the works of legendary painters and
sculptors under one roof. The
Bombay Art Society (1888-2016): History and Voyage features art from Raja Ravi Varma, JP
Ganguly, AX Trinidade and modernists such as Amrita Sher-Gil, SH Raza and VS
Gaitonde. The showcase chronicles the 128-year-old journey of the Bombay Art
Society (BAS), India’s oldest art institute, which was founded in 1888 to
promote art in the subcontinent.
Curated by noted painter and
historian Suhas Bahulkar – also chairperson of NGMA – History and Voyage showcases BAS’s glorious past through
paintings and sculptures which won gold medals and Governor’s Prizes at the
exhibitions organised by the institute. A book bearing the exhibition’s title,
authored by Bahulkar, has also been launched last month.
The BAS has been synonymous
with their highly acclaimed annual art exhibitions that have attracted some of
the best talent in the country, helping promote fine art. Since its inception,
BAS has held 124 exhibitions and encouraged scores of artists, who have
achieved excellence and recognition in their career. History and Voyage is a retrospective of all these
prize-winning works that takes patrons through the evolution of modern Indian
art. It comprises numerous styles, ranging from portraiture, landscapes,
still-life, paintings on mythological, historical and social themes, oil on
canvas, water colour artworks, mixed media and sculptures.
The BAS published its first
journal titled ‘A Brief Historical Sketch of the Bombay Art Society’ 22 years
after it was first set-up with special reference to the period between 1906 and
1910. This was the earliest available document that defined the institute’s
purpose which was to bridge the gap between artists and patrons. In addition to
this journal, other books published by BAS over the years are also being
displayed at the exhibition.
“It was a challenging task to
explore and document this long voyage in a short span of time, to draw
appropriate conclusions from scant reference resources and put up this
exhibition, along with writing and publishing it in a book,” says curator Bahulkar.
“I have been a witness to the movement of the Bombay Art Society since my
student days in the ’70s. The encouragement offered through the various awards
of the society to all painters and sculptors has been of great significance to
me.”
According to Shivaprasad
M. Khened, director of NGMA, it was natural for the Mumbai-based gallery to
host such an exhibition as it has been closely associated with BAS through Sir
Cowasji Jehangir, who made a profound impact on the art scene in India. “The
NGMA helps people to look at the works of modern art with understanding and
knowledge and the BAS has a similar objective of encouraging art, especially
among amateurs, and for educating people to appreciate it,” says director. “So,
this event is the coming together of two like-minded institutions for who art
is central to their existence.”
Source: THE HINDU-21st March,2017
http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/indian-modern-art-in-retrospect/article17549371.ece