Mumbai’s cultural life reflects its ethnically diverse population. The city is teeming with art galleries – contemporary to heritage – with rare art pieces behind every brass door. Adding to this marvel is Gallery FPH, open to all at the Free Press House, Nariman Point, from today (Thursday, August 31).
Supported by the Free Press Journal, one of the oldest newspapers in the country, the gallery will offer artists adequate resources and support to promote authentic creations.
Spread over 3,000sqft, the gallery offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea and is the brainchild of brothers Ashok and Abhishek Karnani, the owners of the newspaper as well as the Free Press House. “The entry lobby of the building has been converted into a beautiful space to celebrate art,” said Carol Goyal, of The Kailasham Trust, which has thoughtfully curated the debut and inaugural art exhibition-cum-sale.
Pichwai literally means ‘that which hangs from the back’. The form originated over 400 years ago in Nathdwara, near Udaipur in Rajasthan. The artworks were primarily made to hang behind the idol of Shrinathji, a local form of Lord Krishna and the centre of Pushtimarg worship.
Pichwai Painting |
Pichwai paintings feature intricate designs and vibrant colours, depicting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna. “What better time to launch the gallery with Pichwai art than ahead of Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna as majority of the artwork include Him on the canvas,” shared the curator.
Pichwai Painting |
The 41 paintings on show – some of them by President Award winner artists from across the country – have been created using natural colours made out of minerals and plant extracts; this style of artwork was way ahead of its time for its sustainable approach. “The purpose of Pichwais, other than artistic appeal, is to narrate the tales of Krishna to His devotees,” Goyal explained.
Carol Goyal, Trustee, The Kailasham Trust |
Another highlight of the show is that buyers will have the opportunity to own artworks directly from the artists. “As a fair measure (for both the artist and the collector), we will sell at prices quoted by the artists,” said Goyal, a lawyer with a Master’s degree in Art IP from London and New York. Goyal worked at Sotheby’s and DAG for over five years before dedicating herself to bringing the artworks out of traditional galleries and curating exhibitions in more experimental spaces.
Carol Goyal, Trustee, The Kailasham Trust |
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, most artists had no work. The Kailasham Trust funded the creation of many traditional artworks to support the entire fraternity. These paintings are a result of that initiative, which was proactively undertaken by our chairperson Tanya Goyal,” she said.
The Kailasham Trust, which came into existence a decade ago to promote both traditional arts and mainline arts, owns a private museum, the Kailasham Museum, in Gurgaon, housing nearly 1,000 pieces of ceramics and high quality art.
