Labyrinth of art

After a long time,the Jehangir Art Gallery hosted a really outstanding exhibition at its premises. The Jashn Osianama opened on Saturday night to a mixed crowd of art aficionados,tourists,students,glitterati and the average man on the street.

The gallery was modified from its flat presentation and the Osian’s team created a passageway that led the viewer through a labyrinth of panels and partitions where the art was housed. A kind of discovery of the art works tucked away in various nooks and corners. Viewers were greeted by a jubilant Neville Tuli at the entrance and a benign Buddha at the beginning of the show. Next there was a grand procession of Samurai helmets,each one grander than the next,so unique that one could almost imagine the men who wore these helmets,the battle grounds and the teeming horses. The Japanese dolls at the end of this terrific display served to soothe and comfort viewer. The other impressive showcase was of the photographs of tiger hunts,while the Bengal famine section was very disturbing. Gallery II was dedicated to pop art and included a range of posters,film memorabilia,life-sized costumed mannequins and a series of Cartier-Bresson’s photographs of Gandhi,which looked a little out of place among the fun stuff.

Showstopper Artists Jehangir Sabavala and Mehli Gobhai,auctioneer Dinesh Vazirani,eminent historian and artist Carmel Berkson were full of praise for the show.

Devika Bhojwani,AD Singh and Pravina and Jamal Mecklai were seen enjoying the art and later the food at Samovar which kept its shutters open late.