‘Sangam – Confluence’ and ‘India in Fashion’

The NMACC – Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, which was inaugurated on 31st March 2023, is set become a major cultural centre in India. At the opening, the NMACC announced that the visitors would experience ‘A sensory journey of India’s rich cultural history through costume, performing and visual arts.’ 

The Founder and Chairperson Nita Mukesh Ambani shares her ambitious vision about the centre as “An ode to our nation, the Cultural Centre aims to preserve and promote Indian arts. I hope our spaces nurture and inspire talent, bringing together communities from across India and the globe.”

This is an ambitious project which aspires to bring world class art experiences to India in the field of performing arts, visual arts, costumes and movies. The NMACC boasts of major attractions like The Grand Theatre, Box office, The Art House, Jio World Convention Centre, The Cube and The Studio Theatre. Each of these facilities have already started off with their inaugural shows and are going to continue with similar independent curated shows in future. Visitors can choose and book shows of their liking.

The NMACC’s strategic location at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), the business district in Mumbai makes it centrally accessible from any part of the city, moreover, for visitors from outside Mumbai and India. The NMACC campus fits snugly into the well-planned corporate arena of the BKC. Culturally, it complements the existing corporate atmosphere there, by adding the aspects of art, culture, and entertainment. The campus is well designed, modern and comparable to a large corporate house. 

Out of the major inaugural shows, I visited the ‘Sangam – Confluence’ and ‘India in Fashion’ recently.

‘Sangam – Confluence’ 

The exhibition showcases paintings, sculptures, carvings, photographs and contemporary art works which have amalgamation of various media and techniques. The exhibition is said to be a celebration of India’s diverse culture and traditions through the works of contemporary Indian and global artists. It is co-curated by American curator Jeffrey Deitch and India’s leading cultural theorist Ranjit Hoskote. This exhibition showcases unique narratives of 10 artists (5 Indian and 5 international). Indian artists Bharti Kher and Shanti Bai, an artist from a tribal community in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and her resilient journey offer women artists’ world view, while each one of the other Indian artists including Bhupen Khakhar, Ranjani Shettar and Ratheesh T offer their unique perspectives to life through their art. Their global counterparts who are deeply inspired by India – Anselm Kiefer (Germany), Cecily Brown (Britain), Francesco Clemente (Italy), Lynda Benglis (USA) and Raqib Shaw (Indian born, London based) are exhibiting in India in the same show for the very first time. This exhibition is accompanied by an insightful audio guide in the voice of co-curator Ranjit Hoskote. It streams through a micro-site reachable via scanning a QR code available at the venue. Visitors are advised to carry their own headphones for a truly immersive experience from their smartphones. The audio and video commentary about the artists can also be experienced on the smart kiosks provided at various levels in the gallery. That serves as a good help if one wants to familiarize oneself with the artistic process of each artist at own speed.

The curators’ concept note mentions that the rich and diverse Indian culture has witnessed innumerable occurrences of interplay between ideas and materiality. It further states that ‘Sangam – Confluence’ uses the metaphor of linguistic and artistic diversity to think about how artists do not confine themselves to a singular art-making language, medium, or style. Rather, they range across a spectrum of possibilities. This is evident from the diversity of expression, processes and media used by them. Everyone is using a seemingly different language yet culminating into a singular visual experience, the ‘Confluence’. 

The exhibition is beautifully complemented with interesting quotes by the participating artists which represent the essence of the philosophy, the processes, and the methods of their art. These quotes are aesthetically arranged across the staircases which take the viewer one level up, both literally and metaphorically. That way, these quotes assume a significant role in the viewing experience yet do not burden the viewer while partaking the visual experience of the works of art.

The space (both vertical and horizontal) inside the art gallery and the natural light encompassing that space also mark a significant presence in the viewers’ experience. As one moves to the upper levels, one realizes that the ceiling of each level is higher and higher than the previous, creating a sense of vastness. While the natural light coming from the glass façade on one side throughout the height of the gallery creates a sense of cerebral illumination and being physically levitated in space. It also enhances the viewing experience of large sized works of art which are displayed on the upper levels. Among the large sized works, the paintings titled ‘The fertile crescent’ and ‘There are still songs to sing beyond mankind’ by Anselm Kiefer, the sculpture ‘Power Tower’ by Lynda Benglis and installation art ‘Sundew’ by Ranjani Shettar are particularly the ones which can be experienced in the best possible way due to the ample space available on the upper levels of the gallery. A relaxed walk-through of this exhibition through the four levels of the gallery may easily take over an hour or so. One may spend a few extra minutes on the uppermost level enjoying the high that is created by the whole experience.

‘India in Fashion’

‘India in Fashion’ is a mesmerizing exhibition of trends in fashion industry at international level, that are influenced by the Indian traditional fashion and couture. It is curated by well-known British fashion journalist Hamish Bowels. It has 10 well curated sections that showcase the various eras, global mega trends and works of globally recognized Indian and International fashion designers who have been influenced by Indian fashion elements. These include world-renowned Paris Couture names such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, as well as latest works by contemporary Indian fashion designers such as Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Anuradha Vakil and Rahul Mishra. This exhibition offers a visual history of the global influences of the Indian fashion as it covers timeline from about 1750’s till 2023. 

There are many beautiful wonders of historical importance which can be seen in this exhibition. Some of them are: An attire from the collection of the York Art Gallery in England which is a set of a ‘Jama’, a shawl and a ‘Patka’ (Headgear) (‘Jama’ is part of the Indian phrase ‘Jama-Nima’ which means a complete attire!), designed in 1750; a 1750’s clothing from Antwerp, Belgium which was influenced by South Indian art; an 1830’s Indian handsome silk court suit; several masterpieces presented in an 1851 London fashion show inspired by Indian clothing; a 1903 clothing created by the world famous French fashion designer Jean Philippe Worth inspired from Indian dresses; an evening dress designed by Christian Dior in London in 1956; an evening dress inspired by the Indian sari, specially designed by Naeem Khan and worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, wife of the then US President Barack Obama, during the India State Dinner at the White House in 2009, which had Indian stylized floral embroidery (a replica of the dress is exhibited, not the original).

Needless to say, that this exhibition assumes the status of an academic study tour for students of Fashion design and Textile. Entry is free for students of Fashion design. However, it is equally attractive for fashion enthusiasts and common man, due to the dazzling displays of costumes from more than 250 years of history, all complete with self-explanatory labels and notes as well as presented with an interesting interplay of stimulating light – shadows and enthralling musical backdrops. There were student visitors from schools neatly paving their way through the vast sections of this exhibition. Some of them must have got inspired to choose a career in fashion design. A leisurely walk-through of this exhibition may take over an hour or so, if you engage in noting the names of the fashion designers and the Indian inspirations behind their collections.

It is an irony that the fashion designers from the western world seem to have been fascinated by the Indian traditional costumes, fashion and couture for the past couple of centuries, while India was enduring the agony of the colonial experience which literally destroyed her traditional handicrafts such as the handlooms. Now here we are once again, celebrating the fact that the world got inspiration from the Indian fashion. That is such a contrasting scenario!

More to see on the NMACC campus 

Apart from the Fashion exhibition, there is a separate area dedicated to Indian crafts called ‘Swadesh’. There are artisans’ booths that offer a glimpse of traditional arts and handicrafts of India. That includes artists and artisans from all parts of India who offer short but engaging demonstrations into their craft. Hand weaving, Sarees and Paithanis, Pattachitra art, Carpets, Wax candles are some of the exquisite handicrafts presented by these Indian craftsmen. Their products are displayed, processes are demonstrated and products are available for sale.

Apart from this, there are permanent collections and display of paintings and sculptures by Indian and international artists throughout the campus. This collection is diverse in terms of genres, techniques, and processes. There are globally acclaimed contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama of the ‘New York School’ group, as well as renowned contemporary Indian artists such as Satish Gujral and Subodh Gupta being represented through their engaging sculptures.

With this, the NMACC is all set to make a mark on the art scene of India. 

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Some of the major inaugural shows at the NMACC are:

1. ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’

A musical masterpiece by Feroz Abbas Khan which traces India’s journey through exemplary Indian dance, drama, music, art and more. 

Dates: April 03 to April 23, 2023

1. ‘Sangam / Confluence’

Celebrating the works of contemporary artists influenced by India.

Dates: April 03 to June 04, 2023

1. ‘India in Fashion’

The Impact of Indian Dress and Textiles on the Fashionable Imagination.

Dates: April 03 to June 04, 2023

1. ‘The Sound of Music’

The NMACC brings the Tony Award® winning international Broadway musical to India for the first time ever.

Dates: May 03 to May 21, 2023

Apart from these, richly diverse programs including theatre, poetry, dance, music are lined up in the event calendar. Advance online booking for any of the shows is a must. Children under 7, senior citizens and fashion & art school students can enter the campus free of charge. 

Ticket bookings and event calendar can be accessed via https://nmacc.com/ 

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– Vineel Bhurke 

The author is a self-taught artist and student of Art.