Born into a business family and eventually married into one as well, Kalpana Shah’s career to art can hardly be affiliated to her social environment. But just like “water finds its own way”, Shah believes she found hers into the world of art. A painter herself, she dabbles between a multitude of roles – that of businesswoman, art collector, curator, artist, gallerist and also a mother. While being a mom and an artist came to her naturally, turning gallerist-curator-collector was something she pursued, like one does a dream. With the tragic passing away of her spouse during the 26/11 terror attacks in the city, taking on the reins of the family business was something that Shah hadn’t envisioned for herself, but had to eventually embrace owing to circumstances.
The year 2008 was also a bad year for the art market as the economic recession that led many to lose their jobs, also saw a steep drop in art investments. No one was interested in buying or collecting art, Shah recalls. As a result, Tao that she had started with great enthusiasm and fervour also took a hit. She no longer felt like she had the energy to put in like she did in the early days, when the gallery had shows of some of the biggest names in the field. Today, a decade later, Shah feels it all coming back on track. “I realised that Tao is such a beautiful platform for any creative activity, not only for the visual arts…there can be performances also, there can be poetry readings, book launches…”, shares Shah. As we speak, dancer and choreographer Astad Deboo slotted for a performance at the gallery this month, strolls into the space. Currently home to works by 37 contemporary Indian artists like Baiju Parthan, Sudhir Patwardhan, Michelle Poonawalla and Ali Akbar Mehta amongst others, on the occasion of its 18th anniversary show titled No Corners , Tao is already more than a conventional art space.
Shah’s 22-year-old daughter, Sanjana who has used the space for a theatre performance once is soon to be co-director of the gallery. A chip off the old block, the youngster’s creative inclinations could find the perfect outlet through the gallery, Shah reckons. In a lighter vein Shah adds how one never feels the need to look elsewhere for critical appreciation as her family members are “each other’s best critics”. It was the encouragement that Shah received from her family, especially her husband, that let her explore her own peculiar artistic style. The idea to paint with a knife came to Shah instinctively and out of the blue sometime after the family’s move to their current address in 2007. “I never sign my work but it still gets easily recognised as mine”, shares Shah with regards to her trademark method that has earned nods from M.F.Hussain and Jogen Chowdhury in the past.
In fact it was Hussain’s painting session at Marine Drive post the Mumbai riots of 1993-94 that serendipitously inspired Shah to start an art gallery. Tao, that opened at its current Worli location in 2000 still remains an important artistic landmark on that stretch of the road. “Sometimes I really appreciate that even a lay person walking on the road stops for two minutes and he looks at the window. He may not enter the gallery but at least there is something visually appealing that he likes.” reflects Shah.
With most galleries in the city housed within gated premises remain out of view, Tao, owing to its huge glass facade makes art more visible.
F0r Shah who divides her time between her real estate office and the gallery, the stark difference of the two worlds is crystal clear. Her love for art comes from the peace of mind it offers than the profits one can expect it to bring in. “Art is not a commodity,” she asserts, finding it more valuable to gift art in place of jewellery or showpieces. “Ultimately jewellery is [put] in the [bank’s] locker, the whole family cannot enjoy it,” she reasons, pointing to how art becomes part of one’s home and is like an heirloom passed on from one generation to the next.
No Corners displays works which are circular, elliptical or any irregular form except squares, rectangles and triangles. The show stems from this belief of growth without limits, “… a continuous boundary that encompasses all,” as the curatorial note states. A space that then, welcomes seasoned as well as first-time collectors looking to slowly build their treasury from scratch, masters of art as also emerging names in the field and of course, the passerby walking down the street who might just happen to pause and look.
No Corners is currently ongoing at Tao Art Gallery, Worli until March 31
