Immerse in diverse Indian art at this interesting exhibition in Mumbai this July

Marine Drive, Ayesha Broacha. Pics Courtesy/47-A Gallery

This is a house of art," is Srila Chatterjee's simple, but effective description of the short exhibition, 6 Rooms, 1 House, that enters its final week. "We wanted to showcase art from our BARO Art archives, across themes," the gallerist expands.

The Portuguese-styled heritage bungalow that houses the gallery is transformed into a space that houses six individual yet interconnected exhibitions. "The cottage of 47-A has six rooms. We began from the fundamental idea of wanting to showcase the complexity of Indian art. It was through the use of different themes that we were able to explore a diverse range of mediums, styles, and forms," Chatterjee explains. From Anwar Chitrakar's Kalighat impressions, to the traditional works of Mata Ni Pachedi to the more urban observations of Ayesha Broacha and Zainab Tambawalla, the works travel through distinct themes.

Bagh Baghini, Anwar Chitrakar

While each room stands out individually, it follows an invisible thread that connects it to the larger concept. "The first room is the Universal Mother, the maternal archetype represented in forms such as the White Tara, Bahuchar Mata, and Mary in Bengali Pattachitra, and mirror etchings," she says. This is followed by themes such as the familiar views of Bombay Meri Jaan, Animal Kingdom, Textile Talk, People Watching, and Out Of The Box.

Untitled, Zainab Tambawalla

The Animal Kingdom, Chatterjee says, is the most profuse of all subjects. "The section features works ranging from Gond, Bhil, Sarai, to Pattachitra, and Origami, among others," she says. Similarly, the Textile Talk section delves into the narrative threads of weaving, printing, and embroidery from Assam to Maheshwar and Kutch. On Saturday, Sarmaya founder Paul Abraham will join Chatterjee in a talk about the role of such custodians of art; while Sunday will witness Ayesha Broacha bring her linocut workshop to make relief printing more accessible to Mumbaikars.

Nitara by Ashita Ganatra Majumder

"With a small window available, and with the monsoon usually being a downtime, it was a good chance to highlight these works," Chatterjee concludes.

TILL July 19; 11 am to 7 pm
AT 47-A, Khotachi Wadi, Ambewadi, Girgaon.