Together, they are showcasing close to 50 contemporary works of art by some of the topmost established and emerging artists, such as Jitish Kallat, Neha Choksi, Shine Shivan, and T Venkanna. The three-day exhibit is being held in a spacious, specially designed at Taj Land’s End in the western suburbs of Bandra.
Gallerist Arshiya Lokhandwala was among the first to launch a gallery in the secluded suburbs in 1995. After she went to abroad for her PhD, the gallery was shut in 2003. She decided to restart it six years later when she returned but this time, in Colaba because it was closer to the art district - Kala Ghoda and the surrounding areas including Jehangir Art Gallery.
Incidentally, Lakeeren is among the nine galleries heading to the suburbs to draw attention of a new enterprising breed of art collectors-appreciators. She has been quoted as saying in an interview with Riddhi Doshi of The Hindustan Times:
“The suburbs have a very special quality. The people are young, enthusiastic and open to new ideas. They are also willing to learn, and are becoming increasingly interested in art. I am excited about reaching out to collectors old and new, through Mumbai Gallery Weekend.”Curators and gallerists point to an impending saturation of the art market in island city, along with an increasing realization that a major chunk of Mumbai’s aspirational art buyers from higher income groups have shifted northwards, prompting the south Mumbai art galleries to head to the western suburbs.
It’s the desire to draw new, young and aware collectors from the suburban art hubs that has prompted the move. They are expected to play a vital role in the city’s contemporary art market development.
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