A rare collection of Nandalal Bose's works is being displayed at Mumbai's Gallery Chemould until July 10. None of these works have been seen outside of a museum setting before. The exhibition also features works from the Bengali school, some by Bendre, M F Pithawala's portraits, and wall hangings by Raza.Former model Sherie Mehr Homji has sourced the works of Nandalal Bose, pioneer of modern art in India. There are watercolours, scrolls, etchings and postcards. ``Bose revolutionised the art scene in India around the turn of the century. He loved travelling, and used the experience to paint postcards. It is these he is best known for,'' says Sherie.
Bose had perfected the ``brush technique'', in which water colours are used on Japanese rice paper. He learnt this from Abanindranath Tagore, the brother of Rabindranath Tagore. Bose was principal of the Kala Bhavan at Santiniketan and taught there for 29 years.
His works have been donated to the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi by his family, sothose outside the national Capital don't ordinarily get to see them. Sherie offers art lovers in Mumbai a chance.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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