“Completing a full circle”

The tall brass lamp stood in the middle of the foyer of the Jehangir Art Gallery surrounded by an intricate carpet of marigolds as a gathering of expectant invitees awaited the opening of a new gallery on the first floor on June 19, 2008. Located in the premises vacated by Gallery Chemould after 44 years, the Hirji Jehangir Gallery was declared open with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, and invited to do the honors were none other than Khorshed and Kekoo Gandhy, octogenarian owners of Chemould Prescott Road, formerly known as Gallery Chemould. Artist Laxman Shresh­tha, whose Select Works formed the inaugural exhibition, chairman Adi Jehangir and Gallery trustee Keti Mehta also participated in the opening ceremony.

It was an emotional evening for the major players. Welcoming those present was Jehangir, who said this was "a happy day.” Shreshtha’s artistic career was launched at Chemould. Now once again he was exhibiting at the Gallery’s former premises. "Chemould is always here,” said Jehangir. He recalled that his father Hirji after whom this new gallery is named always "encouraged art.” Jehan­gir voiced his appreciation of Pundole Art Gallery owner Dadiba Pun­dole’s assistance in setting up the paintings for the opening.

Shreshtha descri­bed Kekoo and Khor­shed as "two people I have respected all my life.” Kekoo recalled how at an exhibition of M. F. Husain’s paintings at the Artists’ Centre at Rampart Row he had suggested to Sir Cowasjee Jehangir the need for an art gallery in Bombay. Kekoo was secretary of the Bombay Art Society at the time. The Prince of Wales Museum gave the land and Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, the money. The Jehangir Art Gallery was inaugurated by Lady Jehangir. Speaking of his long association with the world of contemporary Indian art, starting with exhibitions held within the spartan four walls of the Artists’ Centre before the advent of galleries like the Jehangir, Kekoo expressed the wish that there should be more inter-gallery collaborations like this one rather than backbiting which was prevalent at present.

Khorshed Gandhy lights lamp watched by (from l) K. Menon, Keti Mehta, Vimal Shah, Laxman Shresh­tha, Adi Jehangir, Dadiba Pundole, Sunita Shreshtha and Kekoo Gandhy

Senior abstract painter Shreshtha who had been discovered by the Gandhys expressed his gratitude to them. "In 1963 Kekoo… invited me to participate in Chemould’s opening (group) show. I was a student then and glad to be part of the exhibition… Now, 45 years down the line, Adi Jehangir invited me to have an inaugural show at the same place with the changed gallery name. I expressed my wish to dedicate this exhibition to Kekoo and Khorshed Gandhy (who) have promoted art and artists all their life. The idea was appreciated by Adi Jehangir,” Shreshtha revealed in an interview with the weekly broadsheet on art and culture, Every Tuesday dated June 17, 2008.

"Laxman Shreshtha’s exhibition being inaugurated on the first floor of the Jehangir Art Gallery now being called the Hirji Jehangir Gallery, is like completing a full circle,” wrote the Gandhys in a brief essay in the catalog, acknowledging, "to be associated with his latest exhibition is for us a special honor.” The catalog also carries a piece in which art historian Ranjit Hoskote describes Shreshtha’s tribute as "recording an elegant transition from the accomplishments of the past to the commitments of the future.” Working with the artist to put together the show was Pundole who helped obtain several of the paintings from private collections for display alongside more recent works which include drawings and watercolors.

Chemould, now run mainly by daughter Shireen Gandhy, moved to swanky new premises on Prescott Road last year after losing a 20-year legal battle. The Gandhys have been instrumental in providing a platform to many of India’s biggest artists — Husain, F. N. Souza, Shreshtha himself — and contemporaries like Atul Dodiya and Jitish Kallat, so their ouster from the Jehan­gir Art Gallery had saddened many. But Shreshtha told The Indian Express (IE) of May 25, 2008 that his tribute "completes the circle of events.”

Dedicated to Hirji Jehangir, son of founder Cowasji Jehangir, the new Gallery will showcase budding talent since the three other thriving galleries on the ground floor are booked up to 2013. This was informed to IE by Katyani Menon who has been its director for four decades. She added: "Every year, more than 80-90 artists are still on the waiting list. Since we have retrospectives by senior artists, corporate and government shows that we cannot refuse, this is the main reason we needed another gallery” to serve as a shelter for young and contemporary artists in the fierce art market scenario of today. Designed by architect Rohit Shinkre, the new Gallery is roomier than the erstwhile Chemould. Rentals are quite affordable, ranging from Rs 2,800 per week for individual artists, Rs 4,000 for group shows, Rs 5,000 for sponsored shows and Rs 10,000 for commercial shows.