A monumental establishment in the field of art, Jehangir Art gallery was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, second baronet, in 1952. Located in the southern region of Mumbai, the art gallery is commemorated not just as a primary spot for exhibitions of rare and appreciated paintings, sculptures, photographs, and crafts but also stands as a symbol for promotion and empowerment of Indian contemporary art.
Apart from exhibitions, there are various workshops, forums, and discussions on various aspects of education and art that are conducted in the gallery, counting up to 300 shows per year. Furthermore, the construction of this gallery helped strengthen the contemporary art culture in Mumbai. The by-product of which is the annual fest titled the 'Kala Ghoda Festival'.
With the Jahangir art gallery as the host, the festival is extravagantly stretched to 9 days of sheer art with various exhibitions, workshops, and gatherings celebrating the success of art in India.
Looking deeper into the construct of the gallery which has been through quite a few tweaks in the past couple of years, Jehangir Art Gallery homes 4 full-fledged halls mainly, the Exhibition hall, Hirji Jehangir Gallery, Terrace Art Gallery and the Auditorium hall ready to host activities and exhibitions.
All in all, Jehangir Art Gallery is an absolute delight for artists. From an array of shows to a platform for local artists to prove their skills, the art gallery is a monumental establishment in the field of art.
History of Jehangir Art Gallery:
The eminent Jehangir Art Gallery was founded at Kala Ghoda, Mumbai by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, as a dedicatory memorial for his late son B.G Kher. Standing as one of the oldest buildings in the city, the Art Gallery was built in 1952. The gallery has exhibited creations of some of the greatest names including the works of S.H Raza, M.F Hussain, K.K Hebbar, Anjolie Ela Menon and more.
Sitting close to the Prince of Wales Museum, the Art Gallery since its inception has always been folded with travelers and art lovers. Acting as a pioneer, Jehangir Art Gallery which stood as a symbol of art, slowly encouraged other exhibitors to lean towards the art. So various art facilities have been constructed around the gallery making the entire Kala Ghoda area a hubspot for art and sheer creativity.
Interestingly, the wave of promoting contemporary art in the county started in 1988 with the formation of the Bombay Art Society. Taking a step further, in promoting young and growing artists, Sir Jehangir promptly donated towards the notion and established Jehangir Art Gallery. Additionally, prize distribution and rewards for best art which is still practiced has always been there with the facility since its inception.
Architecture of Jehangir Art Gallery:
The primary designer of the Jehangir Art Gallery was Durga Bajpai. The gallery is celebrated as one of the finest and the first conceptualized construction of the city. Since its conception, the gallery has been through a number of changes but the fundamental design stays intact.
The recent positioning of the gallery stands with fully furnished and technologically sound halls, exhibition areas, and auditorium. While the exhibition area is a ginormous 3,700 square feet space, the auditorium also occupies a substantial 2,700 square feet of area.
Top of the line security system, climate control equipment and a hanging wall are just a few examples of the amenities the gallery is fitted with. This instantly makes it a favored place among exhibitors and artists for presenting their creations.
The gallery also holds a library encapsulated with various books on art. It came into existence in 1975 when the committee at the museum discovered that they had gathered a number of unsold art and paintings.
The library holds these and leases them or sells them out, paying the artist and keeping a minimal commission for themselves. Later, a sales and printing room was also erected inside the premise as a medium to deliver visitors with reproductions of books and other forms of art and writings.
