HOLDING TO A PAST IN THE PRESENT

This ongoing multi-disciplinary exhibition maps the shifts and constants of Connaught Place and what makes it still iconic as a bastion of arts, culture, fashion, and lifestyle

- PRIYAMVADA RANA

As we enter the Dhoomimal Gallery, sounds of melody and chaos reverberate. A soundtrack of mellow clinking glasses and a soft hum remind us of pre-independence days, when Anglo-Indians and the Parsi community lived in Connaught Place (CP), sharing camaraderie over food and drinks. A little further, sounds from CP's streets—vendors selling goods—offer reminders of everything from street vending to the catchy jingle playing 'Delhi Metro Apka Swagat Hai'.

The evolving space complex has become more accessible to all its citizens. The exhibition on the streets, the bargaining at CP's markets in Palika Bazaar and the Janpath flea market that sprung to life between glorious emporiums and street stores. A track of a live performance of 'Muskurane' by Arif is also heard; it represents the CP now—a vibrant urban place with people belonging to its new-age and international stores. These are field recordings done over four decades by sound artist Anant Dave to encapsulate the essence of CP.

CP has changed in its colours and verandas and what remains the same over the years. An ongoing exhibition titled 'The Past Has A Home In The Future', curated by head of organisation Jackfruit Design, Annapurna Garimella, looks at the shifts and constants of CP through the works of those who have captured its spirit. These include photographers Pablo Bartholomew, Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, artist Riten Mozumdar, artist Anwar Chitrakar, fashion designer Dhruv Vaish, and iconic stores like Salwan, Rikhi Ram, and musical institutions. "The exhibition presents a synchronic and diachronic narrative of the place and people, especially through the story of the Dhoomimal Gallery," says Garimella, adding that the display is an attempt to find 'tenderness' in public space.

Locus of art