It was a star-studded opening of the gallery that has art viewed by appointment, the newest concept in the city for serious art buyers. Hosts Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Aashish Vyas and Nandini Viswanathan alongside artists Amisha Mehta and Prakash Bal Joshi took care of guests Manoj Bajpayee, Bappi Lahiri, Sheena Chohan, Mudasir Ali, director Vikram Tuli, and painters Prithvi Soni, Varsha Vyas, Ami Patel, Sonalli iyengar, Padmanabh Bendre, Sharnu Alloli, Madhusudan Kumar, Madhumita Bhattacharya, Ramji Sharma, Rekha Rana, Neela Shete and many others graced the occasion.
Manoj Bajpayee was the first to arrive and stated “the colours of these works take me into them. They are a world of their own. And I appreciate the fact that the gallery aims to give an opportunity to emerging talents to showcase their works at no cost and even sell them. Hence, new artists will get a chance to showcase their works with marketing, promotion and gallery space completely free of charge. It is the need of the hour.” Manoj is an avid art collector himself.
Bappi Lahiri was also very happy being part of the opening. He felt that “as an artiste, I find any form of art is an inspiration. Works of art inspire music and vice versa and the works by Amisha and Prakash Bal Joshi are very absorbing. Our heritage must be preserved and I appreciate Anusha, Nandini and Ashish’s endeavour to keep that alive.”
Added Anusha, Ashish and Nandini, “we felt that the real art lies in the hinterlands. And this is our endeavour to bring that to the fore and give them all the support we can. The colour in Amisha and Prakash ji’s works make a world of a difference to a disturbed mind. Besides being good investment opportunities, they bring peace and tranquility to the disturbed urban mind. And that is why we decided to have our first exhibition with them.”
ABOUT ARTISTS AMISHA MEHTA, PRAKASH BAL JOSHI & THE CONCEPT NIBIRU SHALL ALSO PASS
One is a professional colour therapist, seeking inner harmony and through her serene brushstrokes and shades that not only create hope but also have a distinct healing effect. The other is known for his fascination with the mystique of the river and its relentless onward journey, expressed through his stunning blues and reds in most of his works. Now, veteran artists Amisha Mehta and Prakash Bal Joshi come together to ponder over the most asked question of this millennium: Will the world really end in December 2012?
According to Mayan legend – the doomsday forecast is based on their ancient calendar – a mysterious celestial object, Nibiru, known as Planet X will collide with the earth. And the two Mumbai-based artists attempt to respond to the question at their exhibition titled Nibiru Shall Also Pass from 16th to 30th January at Art By Appointment Gallery, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai.
"Nothing on this planet is here by chance. Everything in nature happens for a purpose. All we need to do is to be aware and receptive to their hidden meaning. I believe that just like certain colours can merge into each other and create a deep healing effect, a chain of celestial events could also have some positive effect on the earth. We need to be aware and receptive to these changes and not fear them,” says Amisha.
Prakash Bal Joshi, who has always been fascinated with the legendary Saraswati river, often uses the river as a metaphor for life and all that it has to offer. “As an artist I have been wondering whether the Saraswati disappeared as a result of climate changes that happened ages ago. I face canvas with all such questions. The so-called doomsday has also got me interested because of its popular impact and the myriad reactions it has aroused. Through my works at this exhibition, I have tried to emphasize that there will be another sunshine beyond 122112.”
Interestingly, while the exhibition is based on the so-called doomsday forecast, it actually marks the creation of a new avenue for artists – the Art By Appointment Gallery (ABA) at Mumbai’s Juhu.
ABOUT ART BUY APPOINTMENT GALLERY (ABA)
The gallery aims to give an opportunity to emerging talents to showcase their works at no cost and even sell them. Hence, new artists will get a chance to showcase their works with Marketing, PR and Gallery Space completely free of charge.
At the same time, ABA will also showcase works of old masters like MF Husain, Raza, along with the younger artists as well as promote works of those who aim to create a niche with their art. For the first three days, the gallery will be open to all, following which it will be Art By Appointment, wherein you call, fix a time and view the art at your convenience.
In the next two month, ABA will soon have three more galleries under its wing, in Bandra (East), Bandra (W) and in Andheri (W).
“The aim is to make as many walls available to the artists as possible, while also take the paintings to the byers. These four galleries will merely be the beginning of a movement,” avers Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, partner – ABA.
Aashish Vyas, a Chartered Accountant by qualification and a well known financial consultant adds: “My wife Varsha is an artist and her creativity sparked off an interest in paintings. Hence, when we three like-minded people met and decided to set up an enterprise to help young artists. The beginning is with my premise at Juhu.” Adds Nandini Viswanathan, “Along with the city art galleries, ABA also plans to have a full-fledged online gallery wherein we connect with all international galleries and collectors. So our artists not only get a chance to showcase their works on walls, but have a 24-hour global gallery, where we also create their own homepage as well. Work is on for the same.”
Anusha Srinivasan Iyer is also a veteran journalist-media strategist, and the woman behind the Acoustics Revival Forum, wherein musicians get a chance to display their skills as well as keep their art alive down the generations. Steps are on to preserve the folk musical instrument culture in India as well. The galleries will also find space to promote music and musical instruments of our country.
EVENT: Nibiru Shall Also Pass Prakash Bal Joshi and Amisha Mehta’s art show. DATE: 18 January. VENUE: Art By Appointment Gallery, 401-B, Foreshore, Near Sea Princess Hotel, Juhu.