‘Lataji would not have approved’

Artist irked at Jehangir Art Gallery closure post legendary singer’s death; arbitrary decision caused anguish and losses to those exhibiting their work

Shanthi Kasiviswanathan, a Mumbai artist whose solo exhibition titled ‘Reactions, Responses, Inquiries’ was on at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda from February 1 to 7, is irked at losing out on a day. The gallery closed on February 7, post legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s death. The decision, Kasiviswanathan said, threw her and other artists who were exhibiting their works at different galleries in the iconic Jehangir space “for a loop”.

Loss ’n’ grief

The Dadar West-based artist said, “I have the greatest respect for Lataji. Yet, deciding to close the gallery, a decision I learnt of late Sunday evening, post Lata Mangeshkar’s death as a mark of mourning caused artists significant loss and grief on a precious day. The order was to close government offices. Public art spaces should be protecting artists through promoting art. We, artists who were exhibiting there on that day, could have held a ‘shraddhanjali’ (tribute) to Lataji on the day during the exhibition. But I was informed that the gallery decided to close as the museum was closed. We could not get any extension as another lot of artists had booked the spaces from the next day onwards.”

Shanthi Kasiviswanathan, artist. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Footfall flurry

Kasiviswanathan, who held her second solo exhibition, claimed, “I did not have the opportunity to inform people that my show would not be on, on the last day, as we were told to wrap up. We have learnt that serious buyers visit the exhibition first to take in the works, and then visit on the last day to buy pieces they liked. There was significant footfall through the week.”

Not consulted

The artist has dashed off a letter to Adi Jehangir, chairman of the gallery, outlining her angst. Parts of the letter dated February 8 read: “I am writing to you in context of closure of the gallery on 7th February 2022 and its impact on the artists exhibiting at Jehangir at this time. I am deeply saddened by the demise of Lataji who we all highly respect…The Maharashtra government announced two days of mourning on the 6th and 7th of February. However, no specific direction was given to shut all places of art and commerce. Why was such an order automatically translated to shutting down a public space like Jehangir on 7th February without the order explicitly saying so? In keeping Jehangir closed..., did you realise that at the same time you were disrespecting the exhibiting artists?”

Kasiviswanathan said that besides the considerable cost of a show at the Jehangir, there is also a waiting period, “at least six years at times, to get a space at the Jehangir to exhibit.” Her letter stated, “Many serious buyers come on the last day. You took away this opportunity from exhibiting artists. The artists paid for the space for a particular period. As customers who paid you, they were entitled to be consulted in this decision and deserve to be compensated in return for not having been given the space for the promised period...” Kasiviswanathan has asked for compensation which includes refund of the rental for the last day of the show as well as R50,000 for lost sales and an additional Rs 50,000 for the emotional trauma suffered.

Gallery view

When asked why no one else was speaking up, Kasiviswanathan said, “I have support, but maybe other artists do not want to take on this powerful gallery. It was so hurtful that nobody thought of us. We deserve to be heard and respected. I think it is important to speak out.” K G Menon, secretary at the gallery, said, “We do support the artists and have their welfare at heart. I will put forward this letter by Shanthi Kasiviswanathan to our management in a meeting on February 18. The gallery will repay one day’s rent to the artists. Please ask the artist to see our rules and regulations point no. 16. I do not wish to say anything else.”

History

Jehangir Art Gallery was established in Kala Ghoda, in 1952. It was founded with the help of donations by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, second Baronet, in memory of his late son, Jehangir. B G Kher, the then chief minister of Bombay, inaugurated the gallery on January 21, 1952. The gallery has exhibited works of artists like S H Raza, Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar, Anjolie Ela Menon and K K Hebbar among others. The building has seven exhibition halls or galleries. Presently, the gallery hosts over 300 shows annually, one of which is the Monsoon Art Show, held especially for emerging artists.

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