Mumbai’s art lovers have a new reason to rejoice. The Jehangir Art Gallery has recently opened up a Terrace Gallery for Photography and Visual Art has added another dimension to the gallery by offering artistic photographs with the backdrop of the heritage buildings at the Kala Ghoda area.
The new gallery was inaugurated two weeks ago and has been renovated by renowned wildlife photographer Kakubhai Kothari and his family. According to officials at the art gallery, this area was occupied by a tenant who conducted exhibitions of his own. After he vacated the premises himself to move to a new location, the gallery authorities decided to use the vacated space as a terrace gallery. It will be available from now on for photography exhibitions by individuals.
Post renovation, this place has been painted in white and marbles have been set up across the railings for the photographs to be appropriately exhibited. The renovation work of the space mainly involved painting the area, adjust the railings to help hold photographs in a better way. At night, there are white lights used to illuminate the photographs.
The current exhibition displays the works of Kakubhai Kothari and is based on the theme Cultural Heritage, Nature and Wildlife. As one enters the gallery one sees that there are two sections. One is the indoor section and the other is outside, under the full summer sun. The indoor section presently has a photography exhibition, also by Kothari. This area showcases pictures of the Royal Bengal tiger in its different moods. Starting from a sleepy tiger to one just about to capture its prey. The pictures have been shot at various wildlife sanctuaries including Pench and Bandhavgarh. Tigers are not the only big cat on display: there are also pictures of lions from the Gir Forest in Gujarat and Masai Mara in Kenya.
However, the view at the open gallery is completely different. Though the scorching heat may be uncomfortable for first-timers, it is a visual treat for others. This display begins with photographs of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai. Beginning with the initial idol procession from the workshop to the pandal, to the final farewell parade from the pandal to the sea; all of the emotions are captured.
The giant photograph of the Ganesha idol immersion at Girgaon Chowpatty, with a glimpse showing reverent crowds making their final prayers as well as a little boy enjoying an ice-cream at a stall, this photograph says it all. This is the most interesting picture in the exhibition.
Moving further, one finds that although the theme is predominantly the city of Mumbai, there are glimpses of other Indian locations, too.
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These include a famous photograph of the Alaknanda river merging with the Bhagirathi river to form the Ganga at Deoprayag in Uttarakhand, and also the forts of Jodhpur.
At the centre of all the works stands a majestic, but very traditional, photograph of the Gateway of India pictured with the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Gallery officials say that it is absolutely safe for the photographs to be displayed in the sun. However, they have not planned what they will do to protect the terrace gallery during the rains, if it remains open.
The lineup for the next few weeks has been decided. After Kothari, there will be an exhibition by photographer Malvika Raj. This show opens in the first week of May.
The lineup of shows is determined by the gallery, which owns the space. Kothari has just funded the renovation.
The best time to visit the Terrace Gallery is in the evenings, when the cooler atmosphere and elegant British-era buildings nearby, including the David Sassoon Library and the Army and Naval Building, offer the perfect setting.
The way to the Terrace Gallery is past Cafe Samovar on the ground floor. So it is a treat for the eyes as well as the stomach.
