‘Chemould60’ launched in Mumbai!

Chemould Prescott Road – one of India’s earliest commercial art galleries focusing on modern and contemporary art – launched the upcoming celebration of their 60th year at Jindal Mansion in Mumbai in a heart-warming program on Friday, 8th September.

The beautifully organised program consisted of a candid freewheeling conversation between Shireen Gandhy – Director of Chemould Prescott Road and Abhay Sardesai – Editor of ART India. The conversation touched upon the trials and tribulations of being a gallerist, the highs and lows of the art world, nurturing the relationships with stakeholders and maintaining the fine balance of legacy and contemporary trends. Shaleen Wadhwana – the curator of ‘Chemould60’ – joined the conversation to elaborate on the curatorial side of the shows planned during the 60th year.

The evening was put together by Sangita Jindal, ART India Magazine, the JSW and Abhay Sardesai. The elegant gathering included the artists from the Chemould arena collected by the Jindals over the years. The program was attended by invited gallerists, art collectors, artists and art lovers alike. Chemould’s association with Ms Sangita Jindal goes back over 3 decades, who launched ‘ART India’ (A JSW Initiative) art magazine 28 years ago. The radiant ambience at Jindal Mansion was further exemplified by the display of frames of Chemould artists appearing on ‘ART India’ covers across the last 3 decades.

The history of Chemould goes back to the newly independent India when ‘Chemould Frames’ was started by Kekoo Gandhy in 1947. It served as the salon for artists of the time such as F. N. Souza, S. H. Raza, M. F. Husain and more. It grew into Gallery Chemould at its iconic location on the first floor of Jehangir Art Gallery from 1963 where the partnership of Khorshed and Kekoo Gandhy fostered what we now know as Indian contemporary art. From 1988, Shireen Gandhy helmed the gallery directorship and in 2007 it relocated to its current home, Chemould Prescott Road. 

To mark this seminal year of 2023, the gallery has archived its extensive history. Over 15,000 items like letters, awards, invitation cards, albums, catalogues, press clippings, photographs, CDs, mounted slides, stamps, emails, telegrams from overseas associates have been put together in archives. For the 60th year anniversary exhibition, curator Shaleen Wadhwana has conducted in depth archival research to create multiple entry points into six decades of Indian contemporary art. She presents ‘CheMoulding | Framing Future Archives’ which is a two part exhibition previewing on 15th September. 

On the occasion of Chemould60, the gallery extends an invitation to all art lovers to an immersive experience of their intergenerational celebration.

‘CheMoulding | Framing Future Archives’ 

Part 1: Framing | 15th September – 28th October

Part 2: Futuring | 15th November – 23rd December 

Curated by Shaleen Wadhwana at Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai

and

‘Remembering’

30th October – 5th November

Curated by Chemould Prescott Road team members

Gallery Chemould, First Floor of Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai

As the third generation of the Chemould Family, Atyaan Jungalwala, Co-founder of Chemould CoLab (started in 2022) invites art lovers to a special show ‘Continuum’. It is put up by young artists to be a part of ‘Chemould60’ by responding to artists that are part of the current Chemould Prescott Road arena of artists.

‘Continuum’

13th September – 4th November

Curated by Atyaan Jungalwala and Sunaina Kewalramani

At Chemould CoLab, Mumbai

For further information: 

Chemould Prescott Road

https://www.gallerychemould.com/

Chemould CoLab

https://www.gallerychemould.com/chemouldcolab/ 

Image Credit: Images in this article are sourced from Chemould Prescott Road.

Vineel Bhurke