Homi Bhabha – The Artist

Starting today,Corda will display four rare prints of pencil sketches made by the late scientist. All made between the years 1952 and 1960,Corda says that he himself is unaware of the value of the prints. “I caught the bug of collecting art works as well as selling them from my father,who has been doing this for a long time. A few years back,we purchased a collection of prints and paintings in bulk from an art dealer in Mumbai,which contained these prints,” he says.

The prints had been lying in one of the many storage rooms at Corda’s place. He admits that paucity of space is one of the main reasons why the collection is stored away . Currently,both he and his father Dominic have more than 5,000 paintings,by Indian and international artists . There are rare photos of old Hindi films on location,during the shoots,and over 6,000 posters of Hindi films. “We were cataloging our collection of Hindi film posters and photographs when we came across these prints. On contacting art dealers across the country we found that these are the only prints of the original sketches available in the country,” he says.

One of the four prints is a sketch of Indira Gandhi that was done in London; another of two hands clutching a drawing book; a third of Professor Engelhardt; and a fourth unsigned painting. “I will display the paintings till June 20. The idea is to showcase this unknown side to a person who was behind India’s nuclear programme . For someone as busy as him to have taken time out to draw,and draw so well,is a wonderful thing. It just shows what a multi-talented person he was,” he says.

(The exhibition will be held at Buena Vista,Bingalow No 6,St Patricks Township,Hadapsar,from 11 am to 6 pm)