On the House

This house in Greater Kailash-I is unlike any other. For one,you will be welcomed with a cup of coffee. Once you enter,you see an inventory of sorts — a vast wooden table cluttered with art material. While one wall holds Pablo Bartholomew’s photographs from the series “Outside In! A Tale of Three Cities: 70s and 80s”,in another corner is an installation by the owner of the house,French artist Julien Segard. You are encouraged to go further — the bedrooms,living room and even the kitchen,all of which are decked with works by Indian and international artists.

As opposed to the impersonal touch of art galleries,here,at W113,all your questions are answered by Segard,31,and his friend,French curator Anne Maniglier. The two came together last year after a particularly bad experience with a gallery in Delhi. While Segard has been working,living and exhibiting in this space for two years,Maniglier’s agenda goes further,as she hopes to educate people about art through talks and performances.

Even though their first exhibition together has 12 relatively known artists from India,Tel Aviv and the UK among others,Maniglier’s focus is also on emerging artists from India. She often travels to scout for them. “Around 1,000 people have visited the exhibition,” says Maniglier,adding that the next show will be held early September.

Also on display are UK-based artist Rachel Cunningham’s photographs of Prag Mahal in Gujarat and Jose Abad Lorente’s multimedia work that deals with sexuality. One is also treated to a 20-minute video by 10 artists from the world over. Particularly fascinating is the concluding short film Moby Dick by Israeli artist Guy Ben-Ner,which follows the story of the classic and is enacted by the artist and his daughter at their home.

The exhibition is on at W113,GK-1,till March 31. Call Anne Maniglier at 9987869698 before paying a visit.