Unarguably, Kala Ghoda is the city’s art precinct. And Jehangir Art Gallery, its epicentre, has survived 60 years to become its very heart and soul. Although many of the exhibitions that it has chosen to display of late have been questionable, frequently extolling calendar art and amateurish figurative canvases. Yet, it remains the No. 1 spot even for the masters to showcase their retrospectives.
Before he had to flee the city, M.F. Husain had shown a collection of his early works at the venue. And eons ago, when a group of leading glamour photographers — like Ashok Salian and Atul Kasbekar — had shown blow-ups of their best photos, it was at the good ole Jehangir. Alas, the gallery is booked up months if not years in advance, and so quite a few young artists have had to seek alternatives. Many more small galleries have popped up over the years. The Bodhi was in the news with its presentations of photography as well as installations, but packed up.
The Chemould, which was housed on the gallery’s first floor, frequently introduced avant-garde and progressive work before shifting to a far more commodious space now known as the Chemould Prescott Art Gallery — a minute’s walk away from the Cathedral and John Connon School on Outram Road.
The Jehangir Art Gallery — founded by Cowasji Jehangir — preserves its art-friendly ambience, its steps dotted with students and aspiring artists. Pavement artists, too, display their small canvases and sketches outside the gallery. And of course, the Samovar run by the indefatigable Usha Khanna, continues to serve the finest teas, thirst quenchers, and parathas to somersault for.
With all the wonderful memories it evokes — as in spending rainy mornings away from college at the Samovar or meeting up with Akbar Padamsee for an interview there — I still wonder if the 10-day 60th anniversary celebrations, beginning October 17, will do the city’s prime art landmark justice. For sure, it’ll require some imaginative planning by whoever comprises the think-tank. A tabla performance by Zakir Hussain has been announced. Fine. But I do wish and pray that there are new performing artistes, painters and sculptors who are discovered during the celebrations. After all, a gallery’s raison d’être is to facilitate an opportunity for newcomers…and the neglected.