Everything About CIMA Art Gallery Kolkata!

Centre of International Modern Art, or CIMA Gallery Pvt Ltd., is an art repository, situated in the Ballygunge neighbourhood. It was inaugurated in 1993 under the sponsorship of the Indian media conglomerate, ABP Ltd. The arcade was designed based on the prominent museums and art galleries in New York, Paris, and London. The gallery has already showcased artists, including Ganesh Payne, Jamini Roy, and Jatin Das.

The Mission of CIMA Art Gallery

CIMA Gallery promotes artistic excellence. Thus far, they have curated and organised almost 200 exhibitions worldwide. In addition to hosting interdisciplinary meetings and seminars with internationally renowned academics, artists, directors, and performers, CIMA collaborates with national and international museums and educational institutes. An NPO was soon established, named the Art & Heritage Foundation. It supports national, regional, and worldwide art and heritage initiatives.

CIMA Gallery Kolkata’s Architecture

According to Rakhi Sarkar, the Founder of CIMA Gallery, “…our friend Harry (Harold) Evans, the famous editor of Sunday Times, introduced me to Marc Glimcher, owner of Pace Gallery, the biggest and the most successful private gallery in the world. By then, we had the space and the architectural planning had been done, but it wasn’t open yet. Marc introduced me to a lot of things, especially formatting. I wanted the space to have a non-commercial aspect as well. Pace helped us immensely, helping us integrate international practices into our venture. That’s how CIMA was started.”

CIMA Gallery is spread over 11,500 sq ft. The interiors were designed to be completely white to avoid overpowering the displayed exhibits. The lighting simply immerses the audience in the story. Additionally, you may peruse through the wonderful in-demand selection of handicrafts, souvenirs, rare textiles, jewellery, and urban-chic design ware at the design shop-turned-gift shop – CIMA Designs.

CIMA Gallery’s Main Events

CIMA Art Gallery Kolkata’s flagship events showcase the vibrant spirit of creativity and innovation in the region. Featuring a blend of artistic performances, thought-provoking discussions, and engaging workshops, these events bring together diverse talents and ideas. They foster collaboration and inspire participants, making CIMA a hub for cultural and intellectual exchange.

1. CIMA Art in Life

Another lifestyle exhibition engendered by CIMA Art Gallery is “Art in Life.” Incepted in 2008, it is a voyage through Indian art with each year dedicated to a particular geography. This year, the arts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be highlighted. It ran from September 7 to October 9 2024. The standouts of this year were the Mireya Jewels from Rajasthan, south Indian silks, brass and bronze sculptures, the tribal masks from Cheriyal, Bengal’s Dokra statues, and Orissa’s hand-printed fabrics.

2. CIMA’s Art Mela

CIMA Art Gallery’s main event is the Art Mela, held throughout each October. This is the time when you’d be able to buy coveted prints, artworks, and handicrafts at affordable prices. It is an annual pre-Puja lifestyle exhibition where exquisite saris, jewellery, bags, designer clothing, artefacts, and home décor items are displayed. Here, you’ll see the oldest weaving and crafting customs in India along with modern adaptations created by young designers and master craftspeople.

3. CIMA Award Project

They also have a CIMA Award Project that honours and recognizes young artists’ talent and creativity from all over India. It is held triennially and acts as a platform for rural, semi-urban, and Tier III towns to showcase their style. The most recent edition was held in 2022, where Suman Chandra won the CIMA Award. The next edition is scheduled for 2025.