Shift in perspective

Eccentric Structures/Intimate Worlds, the opening exhibition of Chemould Shift at Sugra Manzil, Colaba, comprises ceramic sculptures. Pics/Bipin Kokate

Standing tall in a leafy Colaba lane, the quaint old Sugra Manzil houses a sea of new possibilities. Is it a flat? Is it a gallery? We wonder, as we climb up a dark, wooden staircase to reach Chemould Shift - a brand new addition to the city's artscape. A flurry of activity - opening day prep, hair and make-up, finishing touches - greets us at the flat-turned-art space, like we're inside someone's home. And yet, the high-ceilinged walls, stained-glass windows and a long running balcony offer a quiet calm that lets artist Vinita Mungi's eclectic sculptures speak. We later learn from co-founder Atyaan Jungalwala that her family briefly resided at the flat, which is the first outpost for the travelling art programme that launched this week.

An extension programme of the six-decade-old Chemould Prescott Road (CPR), Shift is co-founded by friends Jungalwala, 28, and Sunaina Rajan, 24, who want to discover and nurture young, breakthrough artists. The duo tells us that they hope to offer a space where art meets architecture, music, sound, fashion, yoga and other creative forms; where new-age art-makers can experiment and break away from the mould of traditional white cube galleries. "While studying in the US, I saw a lot of galleries in apartments, parks and abandoned churches. Art is placed in so many contexts, which gives it a new perspective. I feel like here, too, there are artists who are capable of doing that but need the space. We hope this can be a starting point," muses Rajan. At the same time, Shift derives its brand identity from the illustrious Fort gallery, explains Jungalwala, the daughter of CPR's creative director, Shireen Gandhy. "We're not against white cube galleries; we want to push the boundaries. The name implies a model in which we can move around, like bohemians," she elucidates.

The sculptures by Vinita Mungi have interactive elements

The opening exhibition by Mungi - Eccentric Structures/ Intimate Worlds - thrives in the non-intimidating, lived-in environment of Sugra Manzil. The rows of ceramic sculptures - with their oblong shells, bulbous forms, leafy structures, sea sponges, tubular mushrooms and other organic matter - spread across two rooms are an ode to nature, sexuality, gender, and the spirit of co-existence. The colourful structures, at once reminiscent of coral colonies and rainy undergrowth, are a distinct departure from the functionality one associates with ceramics. Mungi, who grew up in Nashik amid open spaces and greenery, shares that she's tried to weave in elements of play. "I grew up playing with ceramic kitchen sets, and a lot of those memories came back to me while working on the sculptures," she tells us. Beyond the playful visual language, the artist hopes that viewers interact with the idea of normalising gender and sexuality. "It's something I'm passionate about. It's okay if you don't see it at first or don't see it at all," she adds, encouraging us to touch, feel and engage with the works.

Sunaina Rajan and Atyaan Jungalwala

With Shift, Jungalwala and Rajan also aim to start a residency programme; senior artists from CPR will mentor the youngsters. The curators look forward to exploring new portfolios, meeting art-makers, and helping them with their writing, CVs, production, delivery, applications, and contracts, among other aspects. Where to, next? Farms, cities, beaches, nothing is off the table. "Shift - it's a verb - is a work in progress," Jungalwala signs off.

Till: April 23; Tuesday to Friday, 3 pm to 6 pm and Saturday, 12 pm to 6 pm (shut on Sundays and Mondays)
At: 2nd floor, Sugra Manzil, BEST Marg, Colaba
Log on to: @chemouldshift