Mumbai's much-anticipated art show made its grand debut at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse on Thursday, November 17. The event drew a large crowd of the city's elite.
The four-day art festival, despite its sophisticated venue and setup, was not just for the serious art enthusiast. The event showed many artworks from over 53 galleries, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs.
One of such pieces was "Year of the Barricades, 1967," curated by Vivan Sundaram. This artwork was framed in wood, featured garments, notes, prints, letters, and a flag. Each of its element represented the May 1968 civil unrest in France.
The sculpture garden of Art Mumbai aimed to highlight the importance of art in public spaces. The exhibits were divided into two sections: one focusing on nature and animals and their relationship with humans, and the other featuring human forms connected to elements like wind and water.
Harsha Durugadda's "Pyramidal Love," a large sandstone sculpture, symbolised growth and transformation. Valay Shende's horse sculpture was made of stainless steel discs. It represented the tension between modernization and tradition in India.
The artwork displayed a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi wearing earbuds and a series of old Bombay photos along Chemould Prescott Road were among the highlights.
Despite the flourishing art scene in Mumbai, art fairs like this one help attract new audiences. However, the absence of artists from the event was noticeable. The first day concluded with a fashion show by Tarun Tahiliani.
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