Art meets memory at Nandita Desai’s ‘The Painted Window’ exhibition in Mumbai

Nawaz Modi Singhania, Nidhi Choudhari inaugurate Nandita Desai’s ‘The Painted Window’ in Mumbai

Mumbai witnessed a memorable cultural evening as artist Nandita Desai launched her fifth solo exhibition, The Painted Window, at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery in Nariman Point.

The show, curated by Praful Satokar, drew art lovers, prominent personalities, and close associates of the artist.

The Painted Window will be now open to visitors until March 21, 2026

Venue: Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Nariman Point

Time: 11 am to 7 pm daily

Dignitaries grace the opening

The exhibition was inaugurated by Nawaz Modi Singhania and Nidhi Choudhari, who both shared personal reflections on Desai's work and journey.

The evening also saw the presence of noted guests such as Raell Padamsee, Aneel Kashi Murarka, and several artists and collectors from the city's art circle.

The idea behind ‘The Painted Window'

At the heart of The Painted Window lies a simple yet powerful concept -the window as a symbol of memory, reflection, and connection.

The exhibition showcases close to 50 artworks created on a mix of vintage and handcrafted windows. Desai re-imagines these everyday architectural elements as artistic expressions that encourage viewers to reflect on their inner selves while also engaging with the outside world.

Many of the windows used in the artworks have been sourced from abandoned or demolished homes, while others have been specially crafted using repurposed wood. Each piece carries a quiet sense of history, intimacy, and renewal.

A personal and emotional connection

During the inauguration, Nawaz Modi Singhania shared a personal connection, recalling Desai as her professor of Ancient Indian Culture during her time at St. Xavier's College. She remembered Desai as an engaging and lively teacher who made even complex subjects interesting and easy to understand. She also praised the artworks, describing them as visually captivating and a true reflection of Desai's artistic talent.

Nidhi Choudhari reflected on the deeper emotional meaning of windows, describing them as silent witnesses to life's many moments, dreams, conversations, joy, longing, and memories. She pointed out that the use of windows from ordinary homes, rather than grand or decorative structures, gives the exhibition a strong sense of relatability. According to her, viewers may find echoes of their own lives in these works, whether through memories of a childhood home, a grandparent's house, or familiar everyday spaces.

Blending materials and memories

Drawing inspiration from her own childhood especially memories of moving homes and spending time by windows. Desai approaches these structures as metaphors for balancing one's inner world with the outside environment.

Her artistic process involves a rich mix of materials, including glass colours, natural oxide polishes, stains, varnishes, wax crayons, shellac, oils, acrylics, pastels, jute, and hemp. This diverse use of mediums highlights her preference for natural textures and layered surfaces, resulting in artworks that feel both nostalgic and contemporary, deeply rooted in history yet expressive in a modern context.