MAG on the Move : Mumbai

The balcony panel at Versova flat of Pankaj and ShradhaIt was during one of those romantic bullet rides, when Meenakshi whispered in my ears- “can we travel the world on the bullet?”. And I replied- “I can drive, you can paint”. “And you also write about it”, said Meenakshi without any pause.

I left the chat hanging in the air but it got struck in our mind somewhere. After few months we were travelling to Mumbai to paint at a friend’s place. It was not like other public art project where artists present works of art to the public as a part of their clandestine project and neither like those performances where the public remained mere spectators. It was a little challenging. The idea was to make the host, who would later become the owner of the art work, participate in the process of creation of art. In addition we incurred another responsibility upon us to make them enjoy the whole process as well.

We prepared ourselves for the project by painting the walls of our own house. We involved friends in the process to know the difficulties we might face but it was rather a joyful as well as successful endeavor. (We received several complements from our immediate as well as virtual neighbors. In fact we even got a few requests from some families to do the same on their walls as well.

The house looks more like an Art Gallery so the name- MAG-Meenakshi Art Gallery.

Meenakshi’s belief that there is an artist in everyone became stronger with the first set of paintings on our own wall in which two close friends tried their hands.

Once we were convinced of the success of this project, we called up a friend in Mumbai and asked him whether he would like to invite us at his home to get one of his walls painted. He said, ‘‘come to Mumbai. There are lot of things we can do here.’’

I don’t think painting was his top priority when we talked. He wanted me to come to their home. They were a bit apprehensive and we were excited.

We started the journey on a single confirmed ticket with our light backpacks and a really heavy bag of colours. In train we discussed some ideas of painting we could propose to Pankaj and Shradha, the Mumbai couple, who are well established writers in the Mumbai film and television industry.

I was slightly worried but Meenakshi believed that art will connect to their heart. If nothing happens then I will paint with Kuggi. Kuggi- the beautiful five year old daughter of Pankaj and Shraddha.

We reached the Versova flat on Sunday. The flat was really nice, cool and with green vegetation in front of the balcony. We had food, chatted about everything under the sun gossiping about bollywood, journalism and what not.

In the evening we asked them with a bit of a serious face- “which one of your walls you want to get painted ?

Actually the flat was really well decorated and Meenakshi was also wondering to find a place. We didn’t want to paint any wall which looked better without a painting. Space matters. After small discussion we found the best place. Pankaj’s balcony is shaped like a panel which anyone can see when they sit in the drawing room.

So now what to paint?

Meenakshi tossed up some ideas to them and asked their opinion. We either wanted to make a big motif or set of small figures. Pankaj and Shradha suggested for the small figures. To involve Kuggi, their five year old daughter in the whole process Meenakshi zeroed on idea of magical toy like figures. These figures are inspired from Bastar art forms but look like African totems.

We started the work next evening when Kuggi came back from school. Pankaj was home. I brought the big colour bag out. The moment we opened the colour bag, everybody looked happy. Colours make people happy. Try it at your home if you don’t believe us.

Meenakshi made the outlines so that we can fill in the colours. I have always loved doing that. So I and Kuggi were filling the colours and then Meenakshi asked pankaj to join in. It looked like he was waiting to be invited. He took the brush and began painting with a childlike joy and utmost sincerity.

Each one competed with other to paint more and more figures. Me and Pankaj painted two figures, Kuggi painted many as she touched at least  five of them.  While we were painting, a friend of Pankaj came home. The bubbly Raj Shekhar is a lyricist. He looked at the panel and said,  it is so lovely, looks great. In less than five minute he too was roped in into the process of creating art.

Taking brush in his hands Raj Shekhar declared that he had never ever painted but he was going to paint the rat. Actually it was not a rat that he chose to paint but a panther with long tail. Any ways, for next half an hour Raj Shekhar was engrossed in painting. He finished only to realize that he had merged two of the legs of the rat (panther) leaving him with only three legs.

We were overwhelmed with the reaction of the participants. Shradha on coming back home was delighted to find the painting. She confessed with slight hesitation- ” I never thought it will be so beautiful.”

Everybody got in the painting mode. The host couple had a designer kettle in their house. Shradha wanted to get that painted. We welcomed her to choose colour. She started to paint it but Pankaj could not resist the desire to wield colour brush. He painted the kettle in golden yellow also called Indian yellow.

Pankaj was so excited that he wanted to paint more. Next day Pankaj greeted Meenakshi with ‘can we paint a horse on the panel?’ early in the morning instead of ‘good morning’. Why he chose to paint a horse is a long story and makes a different post altogether. Along with her father Kuggi adored the panel with a golden flower.

Everyone looked happy and we were satisfied. I could see the strange fulfilment in the eyes of Meenakshi. There were saying – “Look! I told you. There is an artist in everyone.”

Now the time was for our rewards. Pankaj and Shradha took us out for dinner. We were happy as we were able to make others happy.

Next day, Meenakshi gave the final touches to all the magical toy figures. Some intricate designs she put on them, some improvements, and some adjustments which we watched her doing with all sincerity. The real artist was at work but the artist which was evoked in us was watching her and admiring her work.

NOTE: If you want Meenakshi to come and paint at your place. Please contact us through mail. The email id is meejha@gmail.com