Breakfast canvas

Not so long ago witnessing the opening of a new cultural space in the city in 2020 felt like a farfetched dream But the launch of Kuckeliku Breakfast House in Colaba that took place this month is very much rooted in reality for foodies and art aficionados for the space bends both realms by serving breakfast delicacies and hosting exhibitions And it is only serendipitous then that their first showcase by artist Sajid Wajid Shaikh is titled Tasawwur an Urdu term for ldquoimaginationrdquoShaikhrsquos artistic trajectory has been unpredictable even for himself He continues to delve into new mediums and exposes the viewer to varying degrees of his characteristic line work In this show where he takes a leap into the metaphysical Shaikh has found an unlikely canvas motherofpearl and a few shells he found on a shore in Goa In harmony with the title he tells us that his process was meditative ldquoThe work happened on its own like how writers can do flow writing which is also the way Alice in Wonderland was written So my process felt like a visual Alice in Wonderlandrdquo he tells us from Aurangabad where he has now shifted base to from MumbaiKuckeliku Breakfast House has been designed keeping in mind gallery support for artworks PicsSuresh KarkeraThe idea for the experiential space is in tandem with founder and chef Nuzha Ebrahimrsquos goal for her businesses ldquoI keep in mind things I am lacking in The breakfast house came about because Irsquom not a breakfast person I want to have breakfast at 4 pm So at Kuckeliku you can have an eggs Benedict at 9 pm On the other hand Irsquove never had the opportunity to be introduced to the art world So thatrsquos what I wanted to incorporate in my workrdquo she saysNuzha Ebrahim and Ayesha ParikhArt consultancy Art and Charlie will helm the curation at Kuckeliku a word that succinctly signals breakfast time and founder Ayesha Parikh shares that even though it is not a new concept for restaurants and cafeacutes to display works by artists what sets them apart is putting up a curated show with a gallery setup attached to it ldquoWhen Nuzha approached me in January this year she wanted to create a holistic experience I wanted to make sure that art could be seen beyond a white cubed gallery space I wanted visitors to get a feel of viewing art from their homerdquo Parikh assertsSajid Wajid ShaikhCome January 14 conceptual works by Shaikh will make their way in front of the breakfast tables These pieces were made during the lockdown a period when the artist absorbed himself into art history mdash particularly Dadaism and created art vigorously juxtaposing objects around him like a finger ring with a Ganpati stand He leaves us with a hint ldquoThe artworks push people to think lsquoWhatrsquo and lsquoWhyrsquo And Irsquom leaving it to them to arrive at their own answersrdquoTill March 31 to catch the current exhibition 8 am to 9 pm Wednesdays closed At Kuckeliku Breakfast House Kamal Mansion Arthur Bunder Road near Radio Club Colaba Call 9819445721