TAKING ART TO NEW HEIGHTS

The extensive art collection of Air India gets a comprehensive showcase at NGMA Bengaluru

- Nikhil Sardana

At the crossroads of aviation history and artistic heritage stands Sanhitha-New Beginning for the Air India Collection, an ambitious exhibition on for the next few months at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bengaluru. Curated by Subarna Patro and Darshan Kumar YU, this show is far more than a retrospective—it is a cultural reckoning, a reimagining of six decades of modern Indian art through the unique prism of one of India’s most iconic institutions: Air India.

Founded in 1947 by J.R.D. Tata, Air India has long symbolised progress and cosmopolitan flair. Less widely known, however, is the airline’s pivotal role as a patron of modern Indian art. In a post-Independence landscape with limited institutional support, Air India pioneered a visionary model—placing art in booking offices, lounges and aircraft. Through thoughtful acquisitions and bold commissions, the airline helped forge a vibrant visual identity for a newly sovereign nation—now preserved within the NGMA‘s historic walls.