Around Town: Art Mumbai returns with 71 galleries, works by Picasso, MF Husain, a drag performance and more

An artwork of Thota Vaikuntam from his series, ‘My Dancing Shiva’. It is inspired by the Perini Shiva Thandavam dance of Telangana where men perform vigorously in the form of Shiva to honour the deity.

Building on last year’s momentum that saw 53 galleries, Art Mumbai will host over 70 prominent galleries, bringing in leading Indian names like DAG, Vadehra Art Gallery, Chemould Prescott Road, Nature Morte, Experimenter, Galerie Isa, and Tarq, alongside international powerhouses such as Galleria Continua, Ben Brown Fine Arts, Aicon Gallery, and Volte Masters. With a wide array of artwork spanning both modernist and contemporary pieces, the exhibition showcases works from celebrated Indian artists like Jogen Chowdhury, MF Husain, Tyeb Mehta, and contemporary icons Anju and Atul Dodiya. Notably, The Singh Twins — Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh — known for blending traditional Indian and medieval western themes, and British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor will also be featured.

Last year’s sculpture garden is also going grand as a “sculpture walk”. Curated by Mumbai-based Veeranganakumari Solanki, it will feature around 20 thought-provoking installations. Among these is ‘Bombay Rising’ by Ritu and Surya Singh, a commentary on the 19th-century opium trade that influenced Mumbai’s growth.

“The walk encourages visitors to connect directly with the artworks, almost as though each piece is guiding them through different narratives,” explains Solanki. “Parag Tandel’s ‘Vitamin Sea’ and Alex Davis’s ‘April Offerings’ explore the push and pull between urban development and ecology in Mumbai.” Other notable works include Monali Meher’s ‘Unknown Landscape’, Julian Opie’s ‘Walking Figures’, and Ravinder Reddy’s monumental ‘Devi’ head.

Sudhir Patwardhan’s ‘Yellow Sky’, oil on canvas, 32 x 36

Art Mumbai’s founders are also striving to make the event accessible to a wider audience, challenging the notion that art is exclusively for the wealthy. “Art is often perceived as something beyond reach,” notes Vazirani, adding, “Incorporating Bollywood and cultural performances alongside fine art is a step towards making art mainstream, allowing people to see art as part of their everyday experience.”

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar will join as an ambassador, hosting a speaker session on art, culture, and Mumbai. Other scheduled performances include musical sequences by Swirl Music students, Dharavi Rocks, and a dance performance by Pia Sutaria, creating a vibrant convergence of art and culture. An ensemble drag performance, The Gentlemen’s Club, will spotlight the freedom and diversity of Mumbai’s underground scene.

A major highlight of Art Mumbai is its fashion parade, returning after last year’s well-received showcase by designer Tarun Tahiliani. His 2023 collection celebrated India’s varied cultural inspirations, from Kutch shepherd attire to sadhu robes at Kumbh Mela. This year, Tahiliani’s showcase shifts focus to intricate craftsmanship, inspired by iconic motifs and sculptures. “We’ve drawn inspiration from the forms of Indian dance and the grace of traditional Nataraja and Pichwai motifs,” Tahiliani explains. “The journey begins with an elegantly billowing concept sari, portraying a woman riding as a warrior on a majestic horse—a powerful opening that sets the tone for what follows.”

The second edition has also attracted new participants, including the London, Hong Kong, and Florida-based gallery Ben Brown Fine Arts, making its debut in the city. Known for its iconic works from artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Damien Hirst, Ben Brown Fine Arts will exhibit Picasso’s ‘Chevalier et Picador Dans l’Arène (1951)’ and ‘Femme Nue et Guerrier (1969)’.

“Both drawings delve into the artist’s evolving artistic exploration of life, conflict, and mortality,” explains the gallery, noting how Picasso’s fascination with bullfighting and his later meditations on human relationships come to life through these powerful works. The gallery will also present Robert Indiana’s famous LOVE motif, a pop art icon.

Mumbai’s Black Cube gallery will highlight Thota Vaikuntam, a renowned Indian painter known for capturing the essence of rural Telangana. “His work has a remarkable presence that’s immediately arresting—there’s something profoundly captivating about the vibrancy of his colour palette, the meticulous detail, and the way he captures the soul of rural life in Telangana,” says Sanya Malik, the gallery’s founder.

Vaikuntam’s ‘My Dancing Shiva’ series is inspired by the Perini Shiva Thandavam dance of Telangana where men perform vigorously in the form of Shiva and various mythological stories of the lord and take shape in the forms of paintings, sculptures, embroideries and a unique watch featuring a cloisonné enamel dial that he created in collaboration with Deguiret. “This enamel-painted dial has brought a new dimension to my series and is something I have never created before. It’s a beautiful piece that holds the spirit of Nataraja’s dance in a very unique form,” he shares.

It seems Art Mumbai has put Mumbai under the spotlight of art enthusiasts as India Art Fair, a Delhi-based event since 2008, recently announced its own Mumbai edition for next year. “The success of Art Mumbai last year, especially with its sold-out galleries and high sales, proved that Mumbai is indeed a cultural hub with a thriving interest in art. This year’s edition has drawn international galleries, curators, and museum directors, highlighting the city’s growing importance in the global art scene,” explains Vazirani, adding that while he is excited, he is not sure whether the city can accommodate multiple art fairs. “Our focus is on successfully executing this fair first. We’ll see what develops over the next year,” he signs off.

Tickets are available on insider.in