The god of all things appeared in his myriad, magnificent forms at the ‘The Art of India Ganeshotsav‘ exhibition launched by The Times of India in association with Artzolo at the National Museum of Indian Cinema on Pedder Road, Mumbai on Saturday. Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, cut the ceremonial ribbon.
“Each form, each mudra (pose), each bhaav (feeling) have been captured so wonderfully by all the artists,” he said. Asked which form of the deity he preferred personally, he added: “Earlier I’d choose, but now I show my daughter idols of different concepts and select whichever she likes best. Art is that which brings peace to the mind.”
Fadnavis later tweeted his impressions and urged Mumbaikars to visit. He wrote, “Inaugurated the one-of-a-kind The Art of India Ganeshotsav, a platform to showcase more than 200 artworks on Lord Ganesha, created by 100+ artists from across the Nation. The various paintings and sculptures exhibited here are inspired by Lord Ganesha’s virtues. I appeal everyone to visit this lovely plethora of Ganpati Bappa’s infinite forms expressed in beautiful different ways in this 7-day long showcase from 3rd to 9th Sept at National Museum of Indian Cinema, Peddar Rd, #Mumbai. Nice initiative @timesofindia!”
Early buyers and collectors arrived for the inauguration to explore their widest options. The cost of these paintings ranges from affordable to a higher price for stalwarts. Some of the artists walked Fadnavis around the show. Siddharth Shingade pointed out how he had revisited the simple Ganeshotsav of his native Tuljapur by painting a poor villager’s family worshipping the lord beneath a tree. “Their offerings and devotion are simple. In the village, the mere mark of vermilion upon a wayside stone can appear like a god, whereas in the big city you have grand idols that are 20-25 ft tall. I’ve lived in Mumbai for 20 years but not visited a sarvajanik pandal,” laughed Shingade.
Artist Sandesh Khule’s rangoli style geometric Ganesh amazed onlookers for its innovative use of layers of paint. What looked like coloured straws was actually dried colour that had been allowed to crystallise over time. Khule said, “Layers also symbolise the passage of time, in fact the cycle of life.”
The sculptures drew admiration too, especially a Ganesha made of brass rings, and another of resin and marble which had no torso, just an elbow joint that connected the two halves.