Publishing Icon Nari Hira is all set to celebrate 50 years of the legendary magazine he founded Stardust on January 28 with lavish celebrations in Mumbai. The media mogul of Magna Publishing Company who founded the careers of many Bollywood superstars as well as editors is a serious art collector himself and has a massive collection of both old masters and contemporary artists adorning his penthouse at Mumbai’s plush Breach Candy area. He confesses he loves travelling everywhere with his art, his favourite one being a nude created by B Prabha, which he purchased for Rs 1500 in the 1960s from the artist herself. The artwork he claims is now well worth over Rs 50 lakhs today. “Prabha will always be my first love. The painting has travelled with me all over the world—it was there with me at all my houses from London to New York’s Central Park and now at my three-floor penthouse in Mumbai,” he shares admitting that the many other works in his personal collection range from that by Satish Gujral, Manu Parekh and FN Souza to even having limited edition works of Chagall and Erte. “Pick up a painting only because you love it not because of the name of the artist and you will never go wrong,” says Hira who confesses to having never done any valuation of the artworks. “I have never valuated the paintings because I don’t ever have any intention of selling them. Now my grandson is also fond of them.They are exhibited all over my house for my private viewing only,” he says.
DIASPORA AT A DISTANCE
Indian America Artist and filmmaker Suneil Sanzgiri will be showcasing his presentation ‘Disapora at a Distance’ at the Sunapranta Goa Centre for the Arts in Panjim. The presentation is part of their ongoing exhibition ‘Growing Like A Tree: Sent A Letter’ in partnership with Ishara Art Foundation, a show comprising photography, artist-books, texts, films, video and sound installations, that reflect the complex and imbricated histories of South Asia and the world. Sanzgiri’s presentation follows the trajectory of his three short films about intersecting questions of identity, history, memory, decolonization and crosscontinental solidarities in the Global South. Sanzgiri will trace the development of his trilogy of works, the inspiration behind it, the conceptual, technical and poetic currents in his films, and the work on his upcoming first feature-length filmfocusing on the bonds of solidarity between India and Africa that developed out of resistance to the Portuguese empire.The exhibition will remain open till 15 May 2023.
LOOKING AROUND US
Jamaat Art Gallery in Mumbai is presenting works by three young contemporary artists from the Baroda School of Fine Arts. The artists will be presenting their works in distinct practices and mediums which aim to raise questions about our relationship with their surroundings. While Rumit Donga will exhibit in Buon frescoes, Aaiushi Beniwal will be showcasing in various mediums like gouache, water colour, ink works on paper and fabric and Dhaivat Shah a wildlife photographer and visual artist is displaying his works using photography as a tool to document the land, landscapes, and non-human living entities. The exhibition will continue till 30 March.
BENEATH THE CANVAS
Mumbai based artists Swati Sabale’s solo show ‘Undertoned Canvas’ will open at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai on 17 January. The artist exhibits the plight of women she encounters in her daily life though art. The exhibition will remain open for viewing till 23 January.