A Critic's Eye, which celebrates an exhibition of photographs by art critic Richard Bartholomew is a retrospective of his life, times and contribution to India's art fraternity

Curator, painter, poet, writer and art critic, Richard Bartholomew was one of India's finest voices on art; a passionate critic who initiated serious dialogue with painters in the 1950s, 60s and 70s a time when the Indian art movement was finding its feet. If alive, Bartholomew would have been 83. To remember his contribution and highlight his first major exhibition in Mumbai, a book titled, A Critic's Eye, released in 2009, will be showcased at the exhibition as well.



From Fatheru00a0to son
"It was the end of 2006 that I began looking at my father's archives, after I looked at mine that was on display at Arles, France at the time. It took me about six months to archive his work and another six to edit it for the show.u00a0 In 2008, the first exhibition was held at New York's Sepia Gallery," says Bartholomew's son Pablo about how the ongoing exhibit was conceived.

He says both shows were held on the same street, 24th Street, four blocks apart. The second show was held in 2009 at Photo-Ink, Devika Daulat-Singh's gallery in Delhi. It was here that A Critic's Eye was launched. And now, the third viewing is on at Mumbai gallery Chatterjee & Lal.

The Mumbai chapter exhibits about one-third of what was on display in New York, and focuses more on the artists. The viewer can expect a taste of Bal Chhabra, Manjit Bawa, Vasudeo Gaitonde, Nasreen Mohammadi, Jeram Patel among other heavyweights.

"It's a privilege to get an insight into the lives of greats names of the Indian art movement, especially since there are very few good photographs of these artists clicked in their early days," says Pablo.

In Prospect
For an art lover, there's plenty you can take back. "Husain, Souza, Gaitonde... you will see them all, when they were far younger. The photographs reflect a time when the art movement was struggling to find its feet. For photography lovers, it's a spectacular display of urbanscape; the visual narrative is highly developed for that time, emoting a contemporary feel, nevertheless. "And finally, you'll come across intimate images of our family, from the 1950s right through to the 1970s. It provides a glimpse into a socialistic, intellectual family of that period. You get a taste, a feel of the culture that was understated and quiet but had a certain elegance that isn't seen any more in the urban, uber luxurious set up," he says.

A Critic's Eye, Photographs by Richard Bartholomew, on view till March 8, Chatterjee & Lal, 01/18 Kamal Mansion Floor 1, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba.
Call: 2202 3787. The Critic's Eye (book) is available at Chatterjee & Lal, Oxford Bookstore in Mumbai