At Art Mumbai, UAE galleries reflect on historic and contemporary ties between India and the Gulf
Nujoom Alghanem ’s Voyage has the uncanny effect of feeling both tempestuous and serene, like looking at a boat on a misty dawn or, conversely, on a cloudless day. A lot of this is due to the painting’s grit and texture: the dabs and creases of black paint that have been superimposed on the abstracted seascape, the boat with its sailors. Without the black paint, the scene would have plunged into…
At Art Mumbai, galleries from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are exhibiting works that explore the historic and contemporary ties between India and the Gulf region. One such painting, Nujoom Alghanem's Voyage, features a boat on a misty dawn or clear sky, with the black paint adding texture and definition to the seascape. Rizq Art Gallery, which is marking its debut at the fair, highlights Alghanem's maritime imagery, which echoes Mumbai's historic role as a trading hub between India and the Gulf.
Shafeena Yusuff Ali, founder and executive director of Rizq Art Initiative, explains that the theme of the show is Mumbai as a trade conduit between India and the Gulf. Three other Emirati artists are also represented in the exhibition, with their works drawing from the shared heritage of the two regions. Reem Al Mubarak's sculptural piece incorporates teak, the wood traditionally used for building dhow ships and features a poem her great-grandfather wrote to a hakim who visited India for treatment.
Ruqqaya Al Hashmi's Points of Contact uses henna to symbolize the cultural exchange between India and the Gulf. Najat Makki's works are inspired by the seafaring traditions of the UAE, while Abdullah PA's Cabinet of Drifting Histories features columns studded with shells, keys, blades and hinges, alluding to the hardware found in seaports. Amjum Rizve's beaded pieces explore old and new ports in India, while Mibin Bhaskar and Bhartti Verma's works contain surreal elements.
The UAE galleries participating in Art Mumbai include Gallery Isabelle, Gallery 1x1, and several others returning from previous years. Cairo-born artist Mohammed Kazem's works are part of Gallery Isabelle's expanded presentation, which also includes works by Bassim Al Shaker and Fereydoun Ave. The latter artist's paintings depict domineering floral forms, while Rina Banerjee's works feature surreal figurative scenes.
Ahmedabad-born artist Richi Bhatia, who lives in the UAE, is also exhibiting her ceramic and drawing works, which explore transnational themes. Gallery Isabelle's director, Jad Karam, notes the significance of presenting Bhatia's work in her home country, as it allows for a reconnection with a local audience and expanded visibility.
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