L A K E E R E N

The Contemporary Art Gallery Lakeeren Art Gallery opened in 1995 in Vile Parle as one the first galleries to exist outside the South Mumbai, art circuit. The gallery’s uniqueness was that it challenged itself to present avant-garde Indian Art that emerged at that moment in time to a new audience outside the usual South Mumbai circle through the compelling vision and skill of the Founder/ Director, Arshiya Lokhandwala. Since her return to India she has re-established Lakeeren Art Gallery in Mumbai, in a Colaba location. The galleries strength lies in her curatorial vision and showcasing artists that represent the poltics of out time. Artist represented are Anita Dube, Sharmila Samant, Surekha and Waqas Khan.

[lakeeren]

Wishing our shining star Shaheen a very happy birthday. May all your wishes and desires be realized and you have the most spectacular year ever. We love you ❤️❤️❤️💥💥💥 @faridalokhandwala21 @alokef @arshiyalokhandwala https://www.instagram.com/p/CaR8nWnPee2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Happy 100 th to Syed Haider Raza! Channeling the lovely time I spent with you in your studio in Paris, as you passionately spoke about Indian art history, sculpture and why Indian philosophy was so poignant and articulate as an idiom. Wonderful memories as I remember you on your birthday! ❤️🌈 #raza #artistsoninstagram #india #bindu https://www.instagram.com/p/CaRjtGNs7O4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

A beautiful tribute by Mithu Sen to Zarina Hashmi in Ufuq @kamalnayanbajajartgallery Until you Horizon, 2021 A set of 9 uncolored happy prick drawings, Zarina, metallic paper, acrylic, quarantine void on handmade paper, caption, and contract Each 12” x 16” (8 pcs) and 12" x 8" one piece (1 set = 9 pieces) The caption is an important aspect of this project. Each by-product carries an extended caption with duly listed past provenance. The unmentioned, ignored conceptual components for building these works are also about validating and accepting the Invisibles as well as a personal release. The idea here is to both look at value as a layered idea and bring into question the value of the final product. When a final product is formed through defacement. Until you Horizon is a set of uncolored, uncontroversial, and virtuous happy-prick-drawings, and (un)home is a (un)judgemental space that serves as a disclaimer and an exercise in perceiving what the images are and are not. We seem to enter into the gridlock of a conceptual binary that seeks to negotiate the effects that images generate, as well as the conundrum of seeking happiness through art and the larger historical purpose. This Horizon is a (un)judgemental but untraceable, un-ignored space that experiences the immateriality, the devoid, confirming the validity of our existence and our experiences. All existing things exist by comparison to nothing. This devoid is self-defined and it defines everything else. -Mithu Sen, 2022 @mithusen26 @mithusen26seriouslyofficial https://www.instagram.com/p/CaRbKzLv8YP/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Thrilled that Waqas Khan’s poignant work Mirage, 2016 is part of the collection of the Kiran Nader Museum of Art. The work is on view at Ufuq: Zarina a Tribute @kamalnayanbajajartgallery, Nariman Point, Mumbai until March 12, 2022. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. -Rumi Waqas Khan’s delicate works mesmerize us with their rhythmic dance, in which time and infinity both get called into question. Nothing short of a labor of love-- the artist spends not only hours making the work but applying rigorous discipline and concentration to make these exquisite masterpieces, responding to the infinite order of the universe, which is simultaneously an inward journey, to understand himself. The repetition in his work like the whirling dervishes allows the viewer to time -travel from a single dot to the multitude and back, allowing us to fully comprehend the breath of eternity, but slowly --only a step at a time. @mumbai_gallery_weekend @waqaskhaan @arshiyalokhandwala @kiran_nadar @roobinakarode @pakistan_contemporary_art @hashmizarina #waqaskhan @sunaina_kejriwal https://www.instagram.com/p/CaJOmJFvt1u/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Wonderful memories! Circa December 2008, my farewell with the New York gang chez Anisa Keith. From bottom left Tara Sabarwal, Zarina Hashmi, me, few New York friends. Right top Janice Rego, Anisa Keith, Jai Regu, Yamini Nayyar, Mona Kamal, Priya Malhotra, Shelly Bahl, Thomas Erben, Amit Chavan, Judy Reddy and Anjana. @mumbai_gallery_weekend @anisakeith @shellybahl @melhotrapriya @yamini.nayar @judyreddy @tarasabharwal @erbenchavan @thomaserbengallery @hashmizarina @janicerego29 https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ_p_ANslD2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Shambhavi Singh @Ufuq: Zarina a Tribute Lullaby 5 - (Set of 7 fans) , 2018 Variable, Iron Shambhavi ‘s Lullaby draws on her memories of home and belonging raised on grandfather’s farm in bihar. She reminisces about the large farmlands laced with palm trees which provided shade and shelter in the sweltering hot Indian summer, swaying in the wind-- lulling one to sleep securely in her mother’s bosom. The artist revisits these treasured moments composing a set of seven fans, using the palm motif in cast iron drawing on the familiar agricultural tools used for farming. Hence Lullaby marks a personal tribute from the artist to Zarina, suggesting her return journey home wherever that may be. @kamalnayanbajajartgallery @hashmizarina @arshiyalokhandwala @shambhavi.studio84 @mumbai_gallery_weekend @sunaina_kejriwal #abstractart #minimalism https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ8ao63vlrc/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Shambhavi Singh @Ufuq: Zarina a Tribute. Lullaby - (Set of 7 fans) , 2018, Variable, Iron Shambhavi ‘s Lullaby draws on her memories of home and belonging raised on grandfather’s farm in bihar. She reminisces about the large farmlands laced with palm trees which provided shade and shelter in the sweltering hot Indian summer, swaying in the wind-- lulling one to sleep securely in her mother’s bosom. The artist revisits these treasured moments composing a set of seven fans, using the palm motif in cast iron drawing on the familiar agricultural tools used for farming. Hence Lullaby marks a personal tribute from the artist to Zarina, suggesting her return journey home wherever that may be. @mumbai_gallery_weekend @shambhavi.studio84 @arshiyalokhandwala @hashmizarina #zarinahashmi #artistsoninstagram #artofinstagram #artcollector #abstraction #minimalistart @kamalnayanbajajartgallery https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ8aGWcvvsY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Look forward to seeing you at Ufuq to view Astha Butail’s incredible tribute to Zarina @kamalnayanbajajartgallery Nariman point, Mumbai for MGW@2022. Astha Butail Of Maartand, 2022 Of Barren Lands willing or (not willing) to be fertile again. Archival paper, cambric, 409 MDF frames in a specific arrangement, thread, oil and paint 7 feet by 14 feet, installed on a black color wall Maartand from Sanskrit means maart (mrityu) which relates to death and “and” pronounced as “annd” with the stress on the d which means an egg, (and or) a bird. It would literally mean a dead or a black sun, or a sun that has sunk below the horizon. This work also derives from the ancient memory oral archive practices of the Rig Veda, an ancient cultural oral Indian practice dating about 6500 BC. Here the sixteenth memory permutation called the “ghanapath” is visually presented with a pattern, which separates the abandonment or delusion or fear from the feeling of growth or regular healthy food or nourishment. (one hymn was memorized in sixteen different ways so that it would not be forgotten). The use of this borrowed memory pattern in the work with multiple frames is complex, yet musical. It leads to a tradition which will never be forgotten. A homage to this ancient wisdom, a homage also to the passing artist whose concept of home was itself a homage to love of sorts. The eggs of the birds are dead till she chooses to sit on them for a particular time to give that nurturing warmth and protection with a hope of each one hatching into a birdling. Maartand thus refers to that hope, that love that care that protection almost as that of a woman's womb or of the act of sitting on the eggs of the bird. The dance of the white browed wagtail, that stunning bird makes an abstract secret appearance from memory and experience for the artist's personal journey as well. @mumbai_gallery_weekend @asthabutail @arshiyalokhandwala #abstraction #artistsoninstagram #artwork #minimalism https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ6V99oMaIv/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Ufuq: Zarina a Tribute is a homage exhibition to the late artist Zarina Hashmi, opening February 5 in anticipation for Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2022 at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, curated by Dr Arshiya Lokhandwala. and presented by Sunaina Kejriwal. Being one of the first feminist artist from South Asia to work within a minimalist repertoire, Zarina departed for her new abode on April 25, 2020, leaving us with a huge void. Ufuq is an invitation to 10 artists to celebrate her artistic and intellectual legacy in order to historicize her influence and contribution as an artist. Participating artists : Anita Dube, Ankush Safaya, Astha Butail, Hemali Bhuta , Mithu Sen, Parul Gupta, Shaurya Kumar, Shambhavi Singh, Shreyas Karle, Waqas Khan #waqaskhan @mithusen26 @parulguptastudio @safayaankush @sumakshisingh @asthabutail @parulguptastudio @karleshreyas @hemalibhuta #anitadube #shauryakumar @kamalnayanbajajartgallery @sunaina_kejriwal @arshiyalokhandwala @hashmizarina #zarinahashmi #artistsoninstagram #museum #prints (at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZbY-pzPqh_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

#Repost @mumbai_gallery_weekend ... "Ufuq: Zarina a Tribute" is an invitation to 10 artists to celebrate the artistic and intellectual legacy of Zarina Hashmi who departed for her new abode on April 25, 2019. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala and presented by Sunaina Kejriwal at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery. The participating artists are Anita Dube, Ankush Safaya, Astha Butail, Hemali Bhuta , Mithu Sen, Parul Gupta, Shaurya Kumar, Shambhavi Singh, Shreyas Karle, Waqas Khan. Previews January 13-16, 2022 for Mumbai Gallery Weekend! #MumbaiGalleryWeekend #MGW2022 #kamalnayanbajajartgallery @sunaina_kejriwal @kamalnayanbajajartgallery @lakeeren @arshiyalokhandwala @mithusen26 @parulguptastudio @hemalibhuta @waqaskhaan @asthabutail @karleshreyas @shambhavi.studio84 . . Artwork Details: Zarina Hashmi Horizon Woodcut with Urdu Text Printed on Handmade Nepalese Paper. Mounted on Arches Cover White Paper. Image Size: 11 x 33 Inches Sheet Size: 26 x 19.25 Inches Year: 2001 (at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXyN7AtMKi2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Investing in NFT’s ? Understand what it constitutes as this is the future and ready to be minted! Read my article in Art India’s latest issue attached here. (at The Whole World) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXnKpFajxiH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Sharing images of my exhibition Phantasmagoria: Specters of Disenchantment @Gallery 1x1, Dubai that borrows its title from Walter Benjamin’s seminal Arcades Project, which alludes to the 18th century rear projected light display—famously known as the magic lantern. In a similar manner, the larger-than-life shadows and images present a menacing specter of the current conditions that plague our society, most of which are palpable, but not necessarily visible to the naked eye. Not to be missed until January 2022. Images 1 : Gallery Installation Image 2 : Anita Dube, Memorial, 2017 Stone Mountain (Ashura), 2021 Seven deadly Sins, 2020 Image 3: Shambhavi Singh Braille 1 & 2, 2018 Image 4; Sumakshi Singh On Time and its Witness, 2021 Image 5 :Pushpamala N Phantasms (2021) Image 6: Susanta Mandal ‘How long does it take to complete a circle? 2011’ Image 7. Mithu Sen Return Gifts for Sale, 2014- 2018 Image 8 Untitled2020Chittrovanu Mazumdar https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbJVgnMDgA/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Anita wishing you a awesome birthday! Love your spirit, intelligence and warmth. I have enjoyed our adventures together and look forward to our exciting future projects. Have a great birthday and year ahead. 🌹💥#anitadube @arshiyalokhandwala https://www.instagram.com/p/CWxdHFusfVn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Delighted to curate Phantasmagoria: Specters of Disenchantment for 1 x1 Art Gallery, Dubai for Abu Dhabi Art Week. Participating artists : Anita Dube, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, Mithu Sen, Pushpamala N., Sumakshi Singh, Susanta Mandal and Shambhavi Singh Opening Reception: 15th November, 6 - 10 pm The exhibition Phantasmagoria: Specters of Disenchantment borrows its title from Walter Benjamin’s seminal Arcades Project, which alludes to the 18th century rear projected light display - famously known as the magic lantern. In a similar manner, the larger-than-life shadows and images present a menacing specter of the current conditions that plague our society, most of which are palpable, but not necessarily visible to the naked eye. In a similar manner, the artist's engagement in the exhibition suggests the current horrors that scourge our society, that are ever present, but remain unattended or inadmissible, as the phantasmagorias of war, ecological devastation, ethnic and religious conflict or the recent Covid-19 pandemic that start to play out in real time. Can we redeem ourselves from this darkness and reconcile our relationship with nature and ourselves? What lies ahead? The artists shine light on a few possibilities. https://www.instagram.com/p/CWIqT76PX35/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Could not have imagined a better closing for Given Time : The Gifts and Its Offerings which concluded @AiconContemporary than with our final visitor, Gayatri Spivak. It was heartwarming to have a response to the show and to the works, as we stood 6 feet apart observing social distancing under Mithu Sen's poignant suite of Happy Prick Paintings. I would like to thank Projjal Dutta for this invitation to curate the exhibition in spite the challenging time we are experiencing, the hardworking team at Aicon Contemporary for realising the show and very finally grateful to the artists for their participation: Anita Dube, Justin Ponmany, Mithu Sen, N. Pushpamala, Nikhil Chopra, Prajakta Potnis, Raqs Media Collective, Shaurya Kumar, Sheba Chhachhi, Sumakshi Singh. @projjaldutta @gayatrigayatri1957 @raqsmediacollective @sumakshisingh @pushpamalan @mithusen26seriouslyofficial @nikhil.chopra.artist @prajaktapotnis @sumakshisingh @ramrahman2016 @aiconcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CSmio-mraCb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Wonderful to welcome Lucy Gallun from The MoMA @ Given Time : The Gift and It’s Offerings. She is only person till date who has seen both versions of the exhibition in Mumbai and in New York. Great to see you after such a long time. Thanks for visiting. The next photo is with Gallerist Projjal Dutta of Aicon Contemporary. The exhibition concludes August 14th, 2021. @lucylubird @themuseumofmodernart @projjaldutta @aiconcontemporary @arshiyalokhandwala https://www.instagram.com/p/CSfjqfvrIbN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[lakeeren]

Mithu Sen Until You Unhand I, 2021 Uncolored Happy Prick Drawings 12x16in Given Time : The Gift and Its Offerings curated by Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala at Aicon Contemporary Until You Unhand is a set of uncolored, uncontroversial, /satvik/, and virtuous happy-prick-drawings, which serve as an exercise in perception. The artist’s absurdity uses the prick drawings to reflect on the things we take for granted, in her case, the gift of simple joys and happiness, the value of which we only realize once denied. @mithusen26 @aiconcontemporary @projjaldutta @chemouldprescottroad @arshiyalokhandwala https://www.instagram.com/p/CScbV5FFABP/?utm_medium=tumblr