Campus Talk | Exhibition at Mumbai’s Sir JJ School of Art gives glimpse into evolution of art education in India

More such particulars of the evolution of art education in India, along with its connection to the British “civilising mission”, are explored in the ongoing exhibition at the school titled “Shifting Visions: Teaching Modern Art at the Bombay School”.

The exhibition, conducted in collaboration with DAG (formerly Delhi Art Gallery), traces the history of art pedagogy at the school from its founding in 1857 up to 1941. On display are rare artworks from the era, including paintings, sculptures, and documents from pre-independence India.

On display are rare artworks from the era, including paintings, sculptures, and documents from pre-independence India. (Express Photo)

The exhibition offers a first-time showcase of a treasure trove of artworks by legendary figures, including M V Dhurandhar, Jagannath Ahiwasi, Gunwantrao Nagarkar, Raghuveer Chimulkar, Ganpatrao Mhatre, and B D Shirgaonkar. These works are part of the school’s collection. The school says that presenting these pieces alongside equally significant artworks from DAG’s collection will help to better understand the legacy of this 168-year-old institution.

In addition to the masterpieces, the exhibition features textbooks, academic books, exam reports, photographs of classrooms, and teacher training reports from the era. These materials provide a fascinating glimpse into the art education of the time, which has laid the groundwork for modern art education in India.

Elaborating on its connection to the British “civilising mission”, Ashish Anand, CEO and MD of DAG, said, “The British sought to promote traditional crafts to support colonial trade, but they also believed that artisans needed to be ‘enlightened’ and that taste and aesthetics should be elevated. To achieve this, they began teaching drawing, encouraging students to draw inspiration from Greek and Roman antiquities. This initiative was closely tied to Macaulay’s Minute on Education, which spoke of the civilising influence of British rule and the need to revive classical learning among the Indian population.”

The exhibition, conducted in collaboration with DAG (formerly Delhi Art Gallery), traces the history of art pedagogy at the school from its founding in 1857 up to 1941. (Express Photo)

This gradual, methodical approach to seeing and interpreting the world is highlighted through the display of artworks created by students of the school, alongside the masterpieces they later produced. “By juxtaposing their early student works with their later commercial or commissioned pieces, the exhibition illustrates the evolution of their artistic journey,” said Anand.

Prof Rajanish K Kamat, vice-chancellor of Sir J J School of Art, said, “Sir JJ School has been instrumental in shaping the art, architecture, and culture of our city, and our archives are a testament to this storied history. We are pleased to announce this collaboration with DAG to bring our rich archives together. Presenting our collections jointly for the first time will create greater awareness about the legacy of the school.”