For 10 years now, the Mumbai Gallery Weekend has become a marked event on the city’s art and culture calendar. This three-day-long affair—across the galleries in the city—engages with art aficionados through a series of exhibitions highlighting the best art created in India and beyond. The goal has always been to infuse new life into Mumbai’s art scene by bringing together potential art collectors and enthusiasts to expand the reach and importance of contemporary art. Originally scheduled for January, the Weekend was postponed this year due to the rising Covid cases last month. Remembering the first edition, Ranjana Steinruecke of Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke and spokesperson, Mumbai Gallery Weekend, tells us, “Our very first weekend was held at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Bandra, with a much smaller group of galleries sharing one large space—sort of like a mini art fair. In subsequent years, we moved the event to individual gallery spaces. This year, we have 24 participating galleries spread across Colaba, Kala Ghoda, Ballard Estate, Nariman Point, Breach Candy, Worli, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi and Bandra. There is an outstanding range of exhibitions to look forward to, that includes both modern and contemporary art from India and abroad.”

Saju Kunhan’s Home Ground

“The body of work displayed in this show has image transfers on teak wood that investigates the more personal side of Saju’s practice, representing his ancestral home and the multiple migrations undertaken by his family,” says gallerist Hena Kapadia. Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, the artist uses maps and maquettes on teakwood to represent the imagined settlements of his ancestors while paying homage to the refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan and the systematic deforestation of the Amazon forest. He connects his work to politics, power and environmental concerns. He says, “Whatever happens today, there must be a link connected to the past. So my works connect the past and present through concept and methodology.” 
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Where: TARQ, Fort