Art Alive opens the doors of the largest art gallery in NCR and hope to become the new hub for art lovers.
After 10 years in the art world, Art Alive has opened a new gallery — the largest one in Delhi and NCR — in the heart of Gurgaon. Located in the vicinity of HUDA City Centre and Gurgaon’s cultural hub Epicentre, the gallery is spread over 8,000 square feet and hopes to be the new hotspot for artists and art connoisseurs alike.
But why Gurgaon is the obvious question, as the place isn’t exactly a favourite among art enthusiasts? “Gurgaon has evolved in the last ten years and has now become a business hub. I thought this is the perfect time to bring in some culture to the place as well,” explains Sunaina Anand, director of the new gallery as well as the older one in Panchsheel Park. “An art gallery which also serves as a place of interaction is what Gurgaon needs,” she says.
The gallery accomplishes this through a sitting area at the entrance, equipped with a coffee machine and snacks. For those who would like to browse and research, the gallery houses a library, stocked with books on art and creativity. “We have books about the masters such as S H Raza as well as many contemporary artists,”says Anand. While the books are to be read in the gallery itself as of now, Anand is planning to start a membership programme at some stage.
Art Alive in Gurgaon is looking to hold long duration shows stretching over two to three months. “This gives an opportunity to the art lover to view as well as review at leisure,” says Anand. This being the largest gallery in the NCR, Anand wants the space to be synonymous with all forms of art, including classical and new media. The art works in the gallery have been positioned accordingly. “Right from the inception, we have consciously worked at maintaining a balance between different forms of art, be it the classical or the popular,” explains Anand.
An example of this is the ‘wall of fame’ that greets one right at the entrance, designed by architect Jyoti Rath and curated by Anand herself. The wall showcases the signature strokes of various artists such as Paresh Maity, Satish Gujral, Mithu Sen, and Nilima Sheikh. “The wall of fame creates a point of interest that draws people into the gallery, claims Anand. “It familiarises them with the art work inside and ignites their curiosity. It is a permanent mural of sorts.” The gallery unveiled its new premises on August 27, with the show “Form and Formlessness” curated by Anirudh Chari.
The two-storey gallery houses the works of several great artists such as Manu Parekh’s ‘Morning Light at Benaras’, S H Raza’s ‘Mandala’ and ‘The Landscape’ by Jehangir Sabavala. Kishore Shinde, another artist who showcased his work at the inaugural show, is impressed with the layout of the new gallery. “There is sufficient space, lighting and a lot of attention to detail,” says Shinde who prefers to keep his work untitled.
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Marketing itself as a space for multi-functional representation of art, the gallery plays with light, both natural and artificial. With a sitting area amid greenery at the entrance, the gallery also uses its many windows to allow natural light in. “Art thrives with life, and that’s the ambience we aimed to create,” says Anand.
The new space aims to promote as well as attract young talent such as Nantu Bihari and Deepak Tandon. (Bihari’s sculpture is displayed in the gallery’s sculpture court). For viewers who want privacy, there is a private viewing area available, wherein they can view the selected art works without disturbing the main exhibition. With a separate section dedicated to art merchandise, the gallery also offers advice to art buyers on maintenance and preservation of art pieces.
So how has the journey been for Art Alive since its inception in 2001? “It has been a very exciting journey. I believe the art industry has grown from a personalised industry into an organised one,” feels Anand. “ There is an element of professionalism in every sphere of art activity today.”
Art lovers in NCR, or at least Gurgaon have never had it better.