Saloni Doshi’s Exhibition of Art is thought- provoking mediation on visual currents which define India’s historical past and current identity in a world where images catch hold of our sensibility. Through an audacious curation deep in history yet securely in the present, Saloni’s collection defies our basic right to contemplate the world. Saloni asks us through the lens of her carefully chosen photographs, “who gets to look at the camera?” but more importantly, “what do the photographs reveal, and what do they conceal?”
This journey started at the age of twenty-three as Saloni entered the world of art fairs and biennales, leading to what we have presently. She notes that taking pictures can be challenging, and at times boring. However, she still enjoys capturing moments and has always appreciated photography from when she was in Sophia College, under Jeroo Mulla, who taught her about picture composition.
The exhibition highlights the figurative presence in photography and showcases moving and imaging provoking photographs. Notable works include Pushpamala N’s “The Arrival of Vasco da Gama” (2014), Umrao Singh Sher-Gil’s “Amrita with models for young girls” (1932), Nikhil Ch Together, these photographic treasures tell the story of India, presenting a different angle on Indian history and culture.
These include works of some of the best known contemporary photographers, including Gauri Gill, Sohrab Hura, and Shilpa Gupta. It presents established artists as well as upcoming talents in contemporary Indian art. Saloni Doshi’s long standing determination to champion for art is evident in her collection which reflects her goal of mentoring and instructing young and future collectors.
Saloni Doshi is a philanthropist, an art lover and a collector of art pieces. She graduated from Mumbai to London School of Economics and Politics for her media and communications study. This is also indicated by her diploma in art criticism and theory awarded by Jnanapravaha, Mumbai.
Saloni’s interest in art is not limited to collecting; She has also contributed to the project as a columnist for the Times of India’s Arts and Culture pages. Her leadership roles in organisations such as the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) and her work with the LSE alumni community in Bombay reflect her commitment to fostering connections and collaborations in the art world. With the transformative decision to convert part of his warehouse into a creative studio in 2009, providing artists with a space sanctuary in the bustling urban landscape of South Mumbai, Saloni’s impact on the art community was rediscovered so when he won the ARThink South Asia Fellowship in 2016 by Khoj, . British Council and Goethe Institute As the exhibition progresses, it becomes clear that Saloni Doshi’s collection is more than just a display of stunning photographs. It is a story of India carefully woven through the eyes of experienced photographers. At a time when images dominate our lives, “Narrating India Through the Lens” invites us to consider the stories that images tell and the stories they hide, shedding light on India’s past, present and future.
