Delhi, the capital of India is not only the political hub of the country but also the cultural capital. From the Delhi Sultanate to the Mughals, every dynasty has embraced Delhi to command the nation. While they have undoubtedly left remnants of their glory in the form of numerous forts, their culture and art history have been meticulously preserved by the several art galleries and museums in Delhi. One of the galleries, which does an excellent job in bringing about a cultural renaissance is Dhoomimal Art Gallery.
Dhoomimal Art Gallery Connaught Place
Dhoomimal Art Gallery or DMG was spearheaded by Shri Ram Babu Jain in 1936. A patron of paintings and publishing, the art gallery is one of the oldest art galleries in Delhi. The contemporary art gallery first made rounds in the media with its successful exhibitions, displaying the works of legends such as Jamini Roy and FN Souza. Soon, it became a popular venue for upcoming contemporary artists evolving into more than a mere art gallery; an artist collective.
Dhoomimal Art Gallery: A Journey Through the Ages
In the beginning, Ram Babu operated a successful printing and stationery shop in Chawri Bazaar. By 1936, he had expanded, birthing the Dhoomimal Art Gallery Connaught Place, although at first, it functioned entirely as a retail outlet. It is said that Abdur Rahman Chughtai during his formative years would seldom barter his paintings for Dhoomimal’s imported papers. The art gallery has often been credited for developing modernism in 1940s India. The successful exhibitions featuring the likes of Sailoz Mookherjea and Sushil Sarkar were the proponent of modern contemporary art. During this time, a club called ‘Kalakar’ was formed. It served as a haven where art connoisseurs, critics, and artists could gather and ideate.
In the early 50s, Dhoomimal Art Gallery’s sister – the Navina Gallery was established in New York. This expansion gave the Indian artists a community abroad and helped popularize them with Western audiences. Artworks by Shanti Dave and MF Husain became a part of this newly established gallery. Meanwhile, the gallery back home was flourishing, attracting audiences to witness the creations of A Ramachandran, and Laxmi Pai, among others.
By the 1960s, Dhoomimal Art Gallery’s name became synonymous with excellence. Indian and foreign dignitaries had caught wind of this and could not resist appreciating their curations. By the 1970s, the gallery opened its doors to a new generation of contemporary artists including Arpita Singh, Vivan Sundaram, and more. At this time, the gallery hosted regular poetry sessions and art & culture exchanges.
The late 1970s were perhaps Dhoomimal Art Gallery’s golden years. Their landmark 1976 show on FN Souza brought former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a guest. The viewers were jubilant to see Krishen Khanna’s truck series and Jeram Patel’s blow torch masterpieces. In the following years, India saw a boom in art galleries, which popped up like mushrooms. The artists now had the choice to work with a plethora of venues. In 1984, the gallery organised ‘Souza of the 40’s,’ a show which decades later is still the most-talked-about show in art circles.
In 1991, after the death of Ravi Jain, his wife Uma Jain set up the ‘Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation.’ The foundation encouraged upcoming artists to showcase their creations at the gallery. Often called the Dhoomimal Art Gallery scholarship, the artists were also given a sum to support their careers. The foundation continues to date, with the awardees selected from across the country by a reputable jury. Anjolie Ela Menon, Bimal Das Gupta, and others have served on the jury through the years.
Till the late 2000s, the gallery focused on paintings, becoming the largest collection of authentic and credible Modern and Contemporary art. However, with the onset of 2010, Dhoomimal Art Gallery invested in experimentation with different art forms. The decision gave photography and installations a newfound audience, thrusting artists such as Nitin Rai and Ebenezer Sunder Singh to fame.
Pushing the gallery and its extensive history forward, Dhoomimal Art Gallery has preserved priceless records of investigation, audio, and publication. The gallery space has undergone a total renovation and is now prepared to accommodate a wide range of cultural and artistic events. They are now ready to present the creations of up-and-coming artists in addition to interactive events like poetry readings, workshops, film screenings, talks, and seminars.
Image Courtesy – IndiaToday
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