Revisit the history of India’s modern art at this exhibition in Mumbai

MF Husain with guests at a retrospective of his work sponsored by the gallery in 1969

As someone fed on a steady diet of Hindi cinema, this writer's first introduction to an art gallery was through Basu Chatterjee's Choti Si Baat in which Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha set off on a 1970s date in Café Samovar at Kala Ghoda. It felt too good to be real. But once upon a time, it was. While Samovar is no longer around, Chemould Prescott Road's upcoming exhibition, Remembering, is a throwback to a time when the history of India's modern art was being shaped over cups of tea on the first floor of the building at Gallery Chemould.

(From left) KK Hebbar, Laxman Pai, Gal Arya, Siaxes Chandan and Gaitonde with the family and staff at the opening of the gallery in September 1963. Pics Courtesy/Chemould Prescott Road

"The stories of Gallery Chemould and Jehangir [Art Gallery] can fill many pages," shares Shireen Gandhy, gallerist and owner of one of the city's oldest contemporary art spaces. Founded in 1963 by her parents, Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy, the gallery was the fertile playground of some stellar names who would go on to found the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group. In fact, MF Husain sold his first canvas from Gandhys' framing shop on Princess Street that even preceded the gallery. "Chemould was not just an art gallery - it was where people came to hang out, to have a tea break and to have conversations about art and politics," Gandhy tells us.

A poster from 1965 advertising Husain's exhibition

This year, the gallery celebrated its 60th anniversary. As an extension of the celebration, this return to their first space (since 2007) feels apt. The place hosted the who's-who of India's art scene, at a time when modern Indian art was still fighting for recognition. Gandhy recalls, "Tyeb Mehta would take a taxi from Churchgate station, and get picked up by Bal Chhabda to perhaps head to Pundole [art gallery] or for a drink. [Prabhakar] Barwe, Shakunatala Kulkarni and other artist friends would meet here every Thursday and visit exhibitions. The gallery was the place where art students got to see their first [SH] Raza and Tyeb Mehta - and by students, I mean artists like Atul Dodiya, Anju Dodiya or Jitish Kallat."

The week-long exhibition will feature many works returned to the gallery on loan by collectors and friends of the family. "During the pandemic, I had done an Instagram series honouring our collectors. The memory of what each of these collectors brought back first instigated this exhibition. And in thinking of collections, I started thinking of artists who were integral to our programme," she shares.

Shireen, Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy (right) Tyeb Mehta with Shireen Gandhy at the silver jubilee celebrations of the gallery in 1988

The exhibition includes works by Husain, VS Gaitonde, Bhupen Khakhar, Hema Upadhyay, Tushar Joag and Rummana Hussain. While none of the artworks on display are for sale, they carry with them memories, Gandhy remarks, "It involves artists who began their journey with the gallery or with Kekoo (my father) even before Chemould started. When making choices, I was indeed thinking of the stories behind the artwork."

One of the stories is that of collector Kaveeta Singh, who brought her first Krishen Khanna from the Gandhys for her anniversary instead of buying jewellery; or the Sawhneys who purchased a Tyeb Mehta on instalments of Rs 100 (the artwork cost R800 in all). It might be nostalgia, suggests the gallerist, but it is also a tribute to the many contributors of this hallowed art space. "As I say always, we are because of our artists. And all these artists who have shown, had their first exhibitions in the gallery - where it began for them. Why not go back to the roots, in remembering?" she concludes.

From: October 31 to November 5; 11 am to 7 pm
At: Hirji Gallery (formerly Gallery Chemould), Jehangir Art Gallery, first floor, Kala Ghoda