Fathoming Nasreen Mohamedi’s art through Glenbarra Art Museum collection

In the realm of Indian art, few names resonate as powerfully as Nasreen Mohamedi. In recent years, there has been a renewed recognition of Nasreen’s artistic contributions. Her works have been exhibited in major galleries and museums worldwide. The delicate balance and understated elegance of her abstract compositions have mesmerized audiences, cementing her status among the most respectable names of modern art.

An exclusive exhibition of Nasreen Mohamedi’s pristine works of art concluded in May 2023 at the Pundole Gallery in Mumbai. Before Mumbai, the exhibition traveled from Goa to Vadodara and to New Delhi, spending about 4 to 5 weeks at each location. The works presented in this exhibition are from the collection of the Glenbarra Art Museum, Japan.

Masanori Fukuoka, Director of the Glenbarra Art Museum is a distinguished art collector who is fascinated by India and the Buddhist philosophy since his youth in the early 1970’s. He attributes his first spark of fascination about India to reading ‘Siddhartha’, a 1922 novel by Herman Hesse, which unfolds the spiritual journey of self-discovery of a young man named Siddhartha. The transformative experience that he had while reading it, led him to pursue Buddhist education at Ryukoku University. During his university education, he was deeply influenced by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s epic poem ‘Gitanjali’ and by the subtlety of the cinematic language of Satyajit Ray.

Such exposure to the classic art not only laid the foundation of his passion for art and but also defined his taste for art. Fukuoka began collecting art at an early age when he was in his thirties and continued for almost four decades. He began collecting Indian art in 1990, and soon in 1991, he opened Glenbarra Art Museum which houses his collection of about sixty Indian artists. Through this exhibition, Fukuoka offered a rare opportunity to Indians for the first time, to fathom the depth of Nasreen Mohamedi’s pioneering abstract art.

Nasreen Mohamedi was an Indian woman abstract painter whose artistic contributions left an indelible mark on the modern art scene. Mohamedi’s art was characterized by meticulous precision and a profound sense of balance. She created her compositions employing straight lines, grids, and gentle curves to create a sense of harmony and order. Her works often evoke a certain sense of tranquility, inviting viewers to engage in a contemplative interaction. The spiritual depth, the delicate sensitivity and immense creative energy of Nasreen’s work leave a lasting impression on the viewers’ mind.

However, for many a viewer, the exhibition also raised curiosity about the nature of her creative process, about her persona and her life journey. Nasreen has not titled most of her works probably to avoid prejudicing the viewer, and as a natural outcome of her process of abstraction. She has neither signed any of her works. As a result, the onus lies on the viewers who then must align their mind to her mind, to get the best experience of her art. To help viewers with this, the catalogue published by Glenbarra Museum plays an important role.

The catalogue titled ‘Nasreen Mohamedi: From the Glenbarra Art Museum’ provides a visual feast of more than 50 pages of high-quality photographs of Nasreen’s work available in the collection of the museum. Moreover, unlike a usual exhibition catalogue, it is equivalent to an academic book publication. The photographs accompany a collection of five elaborate scholarly essays contributed by four senior women art writers – Emilia Terracciano, Geeta Kapur, Nina Sabnani, and Jyoti Dhar of which the text is edited by Emilia Terracciano.

The essays delve deep into the life and artistic journey of Nasreen and offer a captivating exploration of Mohamedi’s art providing vistas of her creative process. Each of the four contributors bring their unique perspectives and expertise into the discovery of various facets of Nasreen’s life and artistic journey, all culminating to give a holistic understanding of Nasreen as a person and as an artist.

Emilia Terracciano skillfully contextualizes Mohamedi’s art within the socio-cultural backdrop of her time. She explores the influence of European modernism and the impact of Mohamedi’s travels on her artistic sensibilities. Drawing from a wide range of archival materials and interviews with those who knew the artist, Terracciano weaves a rich tapestry of historical and personal anecdotes that enhance our understanding of Mohamedi’s artistic journey.

Geeta Kapur, a prominent art critic, art historian and curator, offers valuable insights into the socio-political context in which Mohamedi’s art emerged. Her contribution enriches the understanding of Mohamedi’s work by exploring its dialogue with contemporary art movements and the contextualizes it with reference to the broader art world.

Nina Sabnani, a renowned animation filmmaker and educator, adds a vibrant dimension through her exploration of Mohamedi’s artistic process. With her expertise in visual storytelling, Sabnani delves into the intricate details of Mohamedi’s creative practice, unraveling the artist’s methods and inspirations. Her contribution provides readers with an intimate glimpse into the mind of Mohamedi and the profound influences that shaped her art.

Jyoti Dhar, an independent art critic and curator specializing in modern Indian art, provides an account of the impact of Mohamedi’s work on the Indian art scene. Dhar contextualizes Mohamedi’s artistic journey within the broader art historical framework, highlighting her significance as a pioneering Indian woman artist. Jyoti Dhar’s contribution offers insights into the cultural and artistic landscape in which Mohamedi thrived.

The design and production value of this book are commendable, with an elegant layout that allows the art works to take center stage. The design style adopted complements Nasreen’s artistic style. The high-quality reproductions capture the intricate details of Mohamedi’s works, ensuring that readers can fully appreciate the precision and subtlety of her artistic language.

With this remarkable publication, the Glenbarra Art Museum reaffirms their commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices and celebrating the legacies of visionary artists. ‘Nasreen Mohamedi: From the Glenbarra Art Museum’ stands as a testament to the enduring relevance and profound impact of Nasreen Mohamedi’s artistic contributions, ensuring her place among the great abstract artists of the modern times.

The book is available for purchase at Pundole’s in Mumbai, for INR 2000/-

Website of Pundole Gallery: https://www.pundoleartgallery.in/exhibition/nasreen-mohamedi-from-the-glenbarra-art-museum

Website of Glenbarra Art Museum: www.glenbarramuseum.com

Vineel Bhurke