Delhi Sketchbook - JohnyML

Lado Sarai and the Democracy of Art Viewing

There are no malls or no glittering and musical ambience in this place called Lado Sari in South Delhi. Located near the historical Qutub Minar, this nondescript place has all the characteristics of unplanned development- modern edifices mingling with shanty town like structures, carpet selling showrooms to makeshift food stalls, barren lands to small but well pruned gardens define this place. But sooner than later, this place is going to be the art hub of Delhi. To be precise, Lado Sarai is another Hauz Khas in making. With three or four major galleries including Anant Art Gallery, Threshold Gallery, Art Motif and Art Pilgrim, Lado Sarai could be the next destination for the ‘art developers.’

I get this invitation from Gallery Threshold. When I open it, I see four invitations cards. Four shows in four different galleries in Lado Sarai opening on the same evening. May be it is first of its kind in Delhi. I have seen galleries in the same street or same locality opening their shows on the same evening in Paris and Zurich. With Lado Sarai example, Delhi emulates international art hubs. Good Change. It is good change because the art lovers need not drive the length and breadth of the city to catch up four different artists showing in four different galleries at four different corners of the city. Opening of shows on the same evening save time and energy, also it cuts a lot of cost for the galleries involved. Overcrowding could be avoided, space for cordial chat and serious art viewing could be generated in this way.

There were some serious thoughts given to the making of an art mall by certain group of people in Delhi. In Gurgaon, some galleries have already moved into a mall. In Delhi however, the Art Mall idea has not yet become a reality. It would be interesting if all the galleries come together to set up an exclusive mall for art. At the same time, in the long run, it would be quite boring also. Art Fairs are the best example of this kind of boredom. You go into a huge exhibition hall with so many galleries displaying their stuff. After sometime you get bored of watching art, art and more art. An art mall could also impart the same boredom as you enter into a building and see art, art and more art. But I think, in each mall there could be a gallery, I mean a serious gallery with serious works, so that slowly the mall going people could get the glimpses of the serious works of art. They may become accustomed to such art practices. The Soul Flower Gallery in Bangkok operates from a mall like space (a business centre) and the footfall is more here. Bodhi in Gurgaon also functions from a mall space. It has a very good book stall next to it. But unfortunately, for the Delhi art lovers going up to Gurgaon is a Herculean task as the main artery leading to Gurgaon, the MG Road is always choked for poor traffic management.

I have been to Lado Sarai couple of times, of course to see art shows. First time I went there when Anant Art Gallery moved in with a solo show of Amitava Das. This gallery has two spaces together with rooms after rooms as if they never end. Absolutely a good space for large scale shows with small scale works. Large scale works would look pressed down as these buildings don’t have high ceiling. As these buildings are not custom made, the roof height cannot be altered. That is the only problem that I perceive in these galleries.

This time I keenly observe the people around these galleries. They don’t look friendly to those people come to visit galleries. May be it is purely my personal outlook. I look at those old men who own these properties, sitting on charpoys, smoking, chatting and wiling away their vacant time. They resemble the old people in Hauz Khas village. Those people who run the local business also take these galleries for just other business venues. I have a strong feeling that this attitude of the local people should be changed in certain ways for making these galleries function a bit more effectively. The local people, at least the teenagers of this area should be invited to these galleries and through gallery walks they should be introduced to the works and the kind of activities happening here. It will make them responsible towards the art establishments that are going to come there in the recent future. They would not look at the visitors of these galleries as some freaks and aliens landing up there in flashy cars and clothes. The doors of the galleries should be always opened for the local people. Why can’t we give it a try?

Though we talk a lot about our contemporary art dealing with the issues of the people in general, it is the very same people who are separated from the very same discourse thanks to the mysticism developed around art openings and shows. Khoj has done something towards getting the local people of Khirkee Extension to be a part of the art happenings there. However, I have observed one serious thing that during the ‘opening days’ the locals are always kept at bay. May be, they are intimidated by the presence of the ‘aliens’ who do not belong to that place. There should be efforts to bridge people with art happenings. Gallery Espace, located right in the middle of a business centre also has taken some steps towards getting the local people (especially the floating business community) into the gallery. If art is made out of people, why should they be kept out when the actual stuff is showed?

Lado Sarai galleries can set up an example in this front also. But I don’t think, the galleries have thought in these terms. To give a simple example, when an Indian, who is not a celebrity, steps into a gallery, the gallery assistants do not come up with brochures or ask whether the visitor need any kind of help- means, whether he/she needs to know about the artist or the works. The attitude is, ‘the works are here. If you want to see, see and clear the place.’ Meanwhile, if the visitor is a foreigner (should be white) or a known buyer, the gallery people throng around them, giving away brochures and impress them with details about each work and artist. I would say it is totally an unsophisticated attitude from the gallerists’ side. Galleries are public places by default and the public (even if he is not an art critic, a buyer, a celebrity, a foreigner or a potential client) should be entertained as if he is a guest. I have observed Anant Art Gallery assistants offering water to the visitors. Good thing. But remember, the visitor is there not to drink water. Most of the galleries make the visitor to feel that he/she is unwanted there. The young girls sit at their desks before their computers, with an attitude, ‘I am somebody. Who the hell are you?’ It is absolutely intimidating. No gallery executive should be sitting and doing his/her work within the exhibition space. Their presence always imparts the feel that the visitor is encroaching a private space. Vadehra Gallery and Threshold Gallery should take care of this part.

“May I help you, Sir/Madam’ from a smiling gallery executive would make a lot of difference in art viewing. Let the visitor be a student, a curious onlooker, just another man from the street, an art lover, an aspiring artist or just anybody, the attitude should be, ‘May I help you.’ The most horrible thing that I have observed in galleries is the denial of catalogues or brochures to an inquisitive youngster (could be an art student) while they give it to a ‘potential’ person around with a lot of smile and courtesy. Let us chip off all these undemocratic practices. Let us together make art viewing a democratic exercise.

Gallery OED Presents