A new show introduces Mumbaikars to the rare collection owned by members of the Tagore household to shed light on the visionary zeal of the Bengal School of Art
(Clockwise from left) Pwe Dancer, Nandalal Bose, wash tempera on silk; Saraswati, Sarada Charan Ukil, watercolour on paper; Krishna, Kshitindranath Majumdar, gouache on card; Kanu, Abanindranath Tagore, pastel and watercolour on paper. Pics Courtesy/Akara Modern
The Tagores of Jorasanko are the closest comparison to the Medicis that Indian history has produced. Their influence and intellect left an indelible mark on India’s art history. Yet, like the Renaissance, it required fiscal patronage and a vision for the future. The Echoes of Bengal exhibition at Akara Modern will offer a glimpse of some rare works that emerge from the collection of Bengal’s preeminent family.
“The Tagore family was divided into many branches. The Jorasanko branch was the most prominent with the figureheads of Rabindranath Tagore and his nephew Abanindranath Tagore leading the way. However, there was also a branch of the family at Pathuria Ghat in Kolkata involved with business,” explains Puneet Shah, founder, Akara. With his wealth, Raja Prafullanath Tagore established a patronage for artists during this period. “Till the 1930s, his zamindari was the richest in India after the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maharaja of Cooch Behar,” he explains.
Puneet Shah
The Bengal School saw a revival of a visual and aesthetic language that was inherently Indian. The works by artists such as Rabindranath Tagore, his nephew Gaganendranath Tagore, Kshitindranath Majumdar and Nandalal Bose were influenced by Indian motifs, historical art forms, stories and even a pan-Asian aesthetic. “There are 12 works in the exhibition. These range from academic works to Orientals and even portraits of the family. There are also rare photographs showing how these works were hung in the Tagore villa in the early 1940s and 1950s,” reveals Shah.
The gallerist’s first interaction with the family dates back to the late 2010s when they were hoping to give away a rare Nandalal Bose that will also be on display. “The creation titled Pwe Dancer, was painted by Bose after his return from a trip to Japan with Rabindranath Tagore. He was so influenced by the dance that he painted a large canvas — 3.5 ft x 4 ft,” shares Shah. Also on display are works by Kshitindranath Majumdar, Shailendranath De, Sarada Charan Ukil as well as a rare sculpture by Hironmoy Roychaudhuri.
An interesting piece though is a portrait titled Kanu by Abanindranath Tagore. “This is a portrait of the son of Raja Prafullanath Tagore, and a student of Abanindranath. It establishes the connection to the child who had the vision and the foresight to hold on to the collection, and protect it for the future,” Shah remarks. It runs in the family, we say.
From Today till June 30; 11 am to 6.30 pm (Tuesday to Saturday)
AT Akara Modern, Churchill Chambers, Colaba.
CALL 7208488979
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