A time to remember

One may walk past Pundole Art Gallery,located along the busy street next to American Dry Fruit.

One may walk past Pundole Art Gallery,located along the busy street next to American Dry Fruit. However,one cannot miss the eight-foot mural painted by the living legend M F Husain; of course its his favourite theme horses.

Before his skirmish with rightwing zealots,Husain would return every year for a solo show with his first and favourite gallery,given that its one of the oldest galleries in the city,dating to 1963. Unlike its cousin Chemould,it hasnt expanded or moved out. It is one of the last galleries thats believes in old ways. Dadiba Pundole, the gallery owner,hidden behind piles of paperwork,keeps a low profile and never hosts page-three events at the establishment that was handed down by his father Kali Pundole.

The gallery began quite coincidentally. Kali was a watchmaker at the time and Beaumont Watches stood where the gallery is today. He began as a framer of art works much like his contemporary Kekoo Gandhy. The watchmaker was egged on by Husain to get involved in not just framing but consigning art. The maverick artist mounted many a show at the gallery encouraging Kali to commit himself to art. Soon the watchmakers shop morphed into a gallery and after some years it became the hub for the Progressive artists.

Things went on smoothly till 1990,when Kali passed away. It seemed like his son Dadiba was not keen to take charge of the gallery,even though he had joined his father in 1980. I was more excited about hands on work at the gallery,like packing art works,measuring frames and displaying them, says Dadiba,who is now heading Sothebys Auction Houses Modern and Contemporary Indian Art section. However,it wasnt long before Dadiba developed a passion for art. No wonder then,in 1992,Husain painted the mural outside the gallery as a testimony of his commitment to the gallery.

Admittedly,it is a small space,when compared to white-cube spaces that have come up around it. However,the old world charm it brings to the area is quite priceless. Whether it is an opening for Husain,Akbar Padamsee,Kishen Khanna or Dilip Chitre,Dadiba keeps things simple and avoids media blitz. For me,the art is more important, states Dadiba.

What of Husains mural thats deteriorating in Mumbais inhospitable climate? Let time take its course, he concludes.

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Mumbai