Open Canvas

Art Mumbai with its contemporary exhibits was a pleasant and powerful reminder of how engagement with creativity can spark ideas, encourage debate, move hearts and change societal views and practices

- ANURITA RATHORE JADEJA

While looking forward to any art exhibit in culturally-rich Ahmedabad has always been pure delight, a sudden plan to go check out Art Mumbai at Mahalaxmi Racecourse some days ago was even more gratifying.

Not just for the sheer variety of art pieces, but for the unending rows of paintings and solid sculptures that rolled in ideas and showcased how art isn't just about putting together beautiful colours and forms, but about representing a collective consciousness.

Marvelling at canvas paintings is usual practice for art enthusiasts, but intrigue for minute details on canvas or metal, glass, wood, wire, paper and thread further led me to engaging with artworks, deriving meaning and, more often than not, likening those to objects and experiences seen and lived. Walking into Art Mumbai and gazing at pieces that had just begun to get used to eyes marvelling them was the perfect start for a daylong engagement with large and small creative forms.