Ratan Tata birth anniversary: This exhibition pays tribute to the industrialist

It was less than three months ago that the city woke up feeling a tangible void in its famed lsquospirit of Mumbairsquo Itrsquos dear son Late Ratan Tata had breathed his last leaving behind stories not only with the whorsquos who of the city but common folk who had their own special memoriesArya Ambadekarrsquos miniature sculpture of Ratan TataWhile most poured their hearts out in words many of which this newspaper strung together in its tribute edition there were a few who picked up their brushes Just in time for the iconrsquos birth anniversary tomorrow 21 young artists from Mumbai led by artist Sanjay Nikam are ready to unveil these tributes for the city to seeArya AmbadekarldquoIrsquom a staunch Gandhianrdquo says 55yearold Nikam For the past year and a half the Sir JJ School of Art alumnus has been conducting free art workshops for students and enthusiasts at the Gandhi Film Foundation in Mani Bhavan ldquoWhen Ratan Tata passed away it felt like we had lost a man who came a close second to Gandhi Thatrsquos when I decided to assemble my students and put together a homagerdquo he revealsRatan Tata acrylic on canvas by Pratibha JadhavFor Fiza Mujawar a masterrsquos degree student at the Sir JJ School of Art Mr Tatarsquos eyes were a window to his soul ldquoI started reading his biographies when I was a child His humility empathy and selflessness remain unparalleled He might have been a man of few words but his eyes conveyed the restrdquo she tells us Mujawarrsquos acrylic on canvas artwork features Mr Tatarsquos eyes peeping through a field of Freesia flowers ldquoFreesia flowers have been used in many cultures around the world to denote trust I think the rest is selfexplanatoryrdquo she smilesPratibha Jadhav and Sanjay NikamVisitors will find that the theme of trust remains constant in the many artworks at the exhibition ldquoHe rose to the occasion when the people who placed their trust in him needed him the mostrdquo recalls artist Sachin BanneFiza MujawarThe 26yearold is referring to the sliver of hope Tata brought in the aftermath of the 2611 terror attacks that shook the city to its core ldquoMy artwork juxtaposes Mr Tatarsquos portrait with the Taj Mahal Palace Hotelrsquos dome with a bust of Jamshedji Tata looking over himrdquo Banne sharesThe Taj by Sachin Banne acrylic on paperThe artists including 22yearold Pratibha Jadhav who will present a simple portrait at the exhibition admit that although their artworks shine light on Tatarsquos life to tell the whole story will require more than a piece of canvas Architecture student Arya Ambadekar agrees A miniature bust of Tata intricately carved inside a walnut shell by the multimedia artist is aptly titled Legacy In a Nutshell ldquoIt had been a longtime dream to meet Mr Tata and give him something I had created Unfortunately that wonrsquot be possible now But when my small contribution sits alongside the many artworks Irsquom sure hersquoll be watchingrdquo she signs offSachin BanneOn December 28 4 pm preview December 29 to January 17 11 am to 5 pm Mondays to FridaysAt Gandhi Film Foundation behind Mani Bhavan Laburnum Road Gamdevi