Make time for art

Last year while everything but the essential was cancelled out for most months art patrons and enthusiasts across the city took solace in knowing that they at least got to spend the beginning of it galleryhopping through the Mumbai Gallery Weekend in the second week of January So itrsquos more than exciting to know that the cityrsquos largest coordinated art event is back for its ninth edition with 22 galleries and venues showcasing diverse artworks photography and design pieces from the country and overseas Spread across four days every gallery will be following strict safety protocols keeping the ongoing pandemic in mind while allowing visitors to also book slots to visit a space in advance to avoid overcrowdingDesigner Rooshad Shroffrsquos collaboration with Tanya Goel at his new design gallery in Horniman CircleWe usually prefer to take in the entire event as a long walk through the day across the cityrsquos art precinct starting at Art Musings which is showcasing works by Shilo Shiv Suleman who has combined ideas of magical realism technology and social justice in her paintings sculptures and a series of poetic love letters This year you can also stop by Gallery Maskara thatrsquos opening its doors to the public after almost five years With a collection called Portraits of Self ndash II Parag Sonarghare has painted largerthanlife male figures which hard to believe are not photographs seemingly unperturbed by the harsh conditions that surround themA Bhupen Khakhar piece from his show with Jogen Chowdhury Proximate Paths at Akara ArtOur favourite pitstop along the way is always Akara Art which never fails to present an eclectic curation of artists With Bhupen Khakhar and Jogen Chowdhury their current show Proximate Paths covers works from different periodsin multiple mediums and stylesof both artists who had a similar trajectory as the title suggests Founder Puneet Shah says ldquoWe have five oil paintings by Jogen which in itself is rare as he is mostly known for his crosshatch works on paper along with Bhupenrsquos most iconic work Janta Watch Repairing from 1972 which has been part of many museum exhibits worldwide including his retrospective at the Tate LondonrdquoStreet artist Tylerrsquos show at Method Kala GhodaFor anyone with a penchant for watercolours and collages head over to Tarq to view Rithika Merchantrsquos use of organic shapes and colours in her work that focuses on the contemporary moment while searching for answers in the stars And for their latest installment Head in the Clouds Chatterjee amp Lal has curated a series of works by several artists including Anju Dodiya Rashid Rana and Nikhil ChopraCoral Fever by Aditi Singh Pic CourtesyChemould Prescott GallerycopyAs yoursquoll walk towards Fort yoursquoll find a solo show by Aditi Singh at Chemould Prescott Road which is inspired by solitude and nature with drawings and paintings that play with rich layers of colour light shapes and shadows At Galerie Isa Spanish artist Antonio Santinrsquos hyperrealistic dramatic paintings depicting skilfully executed ornamental tapestries will expose you to the techniques of tenebrism and chiaroscuro that master painters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio introduced to European painting in the 15th and 16th centuryA design specialFor the first time the weekend will also showcase the art of design with Rooshad Shroffrsquos collaboration with Tanya Goel at his new design gallery in Horniman Circle ldquoWe realised we never had a space to showcase the furniture we made for people to discover or immerse themselves in design and celebrate the craftsmanship behind itrdquo says Shroff With Goel represented by Nature Morte New Delhi Shroffrsquos signature Cchairs have been redeveloped with pieces of artwork embroidered on it to create six pairs of lsquoDay and Nightrsquo limited editions sets Another example of unique design to look out for is his handcrafted marble lights Natesanrsquos Antiqartsone of the oldest antique dealers in Mumbaiat Kala Ghoda will be displaying a mix of rare antiques and artefacts in wood bronze and stone spanning across 2000 yearsIf Banksy were in IndiaMumbairsquos infamous street artist Tyler will be hosting his first solo exhibit at Method Kala Ghoda with all his art pieces being taken off the streets which will include his signature stencilart style characters and situations humorously reflecting on various political social gender and castebased situations For over 10 years Tyler has boldly expressed his opinions on various matters using the cityrsquos streets as a canvasWhat Mumbai Gallery WeekendWhen January 14 to 17 noon to 8 pmLog on to wwwmumbaigalleryweekendcom