Two art shows you just can’t miss in Mumbai next weekend

A citys journey through timeA highlight at this yearrsquos Mumbai Gallery Weekend is a show titled ldquoOnce Upon a Time in Bombayrdquo which opens a lens into the transformation of Mumbai through the 19th and 20th centuriesAs the gateway to India by sea ldquoBombayrdquo was a crucible of cultures and ambitionsmdashits docks drawing in everyonemdashfrom traders to industrious workersmdashwho shaped the economic hub that inspired vivid artistic depictions of its people architecture and landscapes Through sections titled Sacred amp Stories By the Sea and Cityscapes in Time the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Bombayrsquos vibrantly layered pastPaintings lithographs and archival pieces capture the coastal cityrsquos many facesmdashfrom its colonial Gothic edifices to the vibrant bustle of its bazaars and the serene allure of its hinterlands As a prelude to an upcoming more expansive exhibition on the city the show invites viewers to reflect on a metropolis that while vastly transformed over time has constantly been a symbol of opportunity and cosmopolitanism through the agesAmong the showcase is a special inclusion of a tinted lithograph titled ldquoMap of the Island of Bombayrdquo made in 1923 to depict the transformation of the city over the course of the 19th century especially through the process of land reclamation The British and other stakeholders commissioned several reclamation projects to expand the area of the island city and this map details these land acquisitions and development activities in Bombay particularly under the administration of the Municipal Corporation and the Municipal TrustWHAT Once Upon a Time in BombayWHERE DAG The Taj Mahal Palace Apollo Bandar ColabaWHEN January 10ndash12 10 am to 8 pmA symphony of light and formLondonbased visual artist Rana Begum is known for the way she dynamically deploys light colour and form to blend sculpture architecture and painting Playing around innovatively and precisely with tactile omnipresent materials her practice is rooted in the observation of everyday environments translating fleeting moments of light and shadow into enduring works of art Her pieces often evoke a meditative quality inviting viewers to engage in slow contemplation and discover the subtle dynamism of her creationsIn her first showcase in the city after several years Begum brings a remarkable solo exhibition with a series of wallbased sculptures and watercolours that epitomise her signature exploration of perception and materiality Central to the exhibition is No 974 a series conceived during a residency programme at Istanbul Modern in Turkey Inspired by the ornate lamp bases of the countryrsquos historic buildings Begum collaborated with metalspinning craftspeople to create moulds that once mounted evolve into shapeshifting compositions As natural light changes through the day these works come aliveHer ldquoRelief Panelrdquo series further deepens this sensory engagement with ridged aluminium tiles coated in iridescent colours that play with perspective texture and density Complementing these larger works are intimate watercolours delicately rendered on gridded paper These pieces echo the tonal interplay of her sculptures once again capturing the ephemeral qualities of light and bringing the viewer into a space of quiet reflection Often completed during her travels these watercolours serve as both a record of transient moments and a call to engage in the art of seeingWHAT Rana BegumWHERE Jhaveri Contemporary 3rd floor Devidas Mansion ColabaWHEN January 10 ndash12 10 am to 8 pm