New Delhi: He's wielded the brush for a good six decades, and his collection is a treat for art lovers.
Veteran artist Jehangir Sabavala's paintings --some of which were specially flown in from around the world --were on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai since Wednesday.
Remembering his first solo exhibition in 1951 in Mumbai, Jahengir says, "There was no means to advertise in those days, only one radio station and no appreciation for the artist."
The exhibition, 'Retrospective' has been organised by Professor Rajeev Lochan, director of the NGMA, and curated by Mr Ranjit Hoskote, the leading art critic and independent curator.
It includes paintings from all the major phases of Sabavala?s career as well as a body of drawings and sketches, many of these unveiled before the public for the first time, culminates in a series of recent work.
Even while tracing the artist's older paintings was a Herculian task as most were spread across the world in the homes of art lovers, for Jahengir, 'The Retrospective' comes as reunion of sorts.
"I haven't seen some of these paintings for 30 years or more," says Jehangir.
An authoritative new book by Ranjit Hoskote, The Crucible of Painting: The Art of Jehangir Sabavala, will be launched at Sabavala?s Mumbai exhibition.
The book combines a biographical treatment with an art-historical assessment of Sabavala?s contribution to Indian art.
While artists like Rina Kallat believe that the veteran painter is energetic and enthusiastic, others like Jitish Kallat are at a loss of words-- "What do you say about the work that spans half a decade?"
Comments
0 comment