The opening ceremony of the 8th Sahayog Contemporary Art Exhibition held at the Nehru Centre Art Gallery in Worli was a resounding success, marked by the convergence of participating artists spanning generations from 16 to 80 years old. With over 75 artworks from 30 talented artists, the exhibition, curated by Satyendra Rane and Namya Gupta, showcases a diverse array of artistic expressions, including paintings and sculptures.
Notable guests such as entrepreneurs Dhiraj Poddar and Varun Lohchab alongside veteran artist Nayanaa Kanodia, Sunita Sanghai – owner of Vachi Art Gallery and Niranjan Aher of Alert Citizen Forum added prestige to the event. Moreover, the exhibition’s noble cause of contributing part of the sale proceeds towards rural children’s education further underscored its significance. The exhibition sees participation from artists all across India (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru) and Nepal as well. Participants include Arpito Gope, Madhumita Basu, Poonam Fernandes, Sneha Nikam, Kamal Ahmed, Bharati Dhawale, Rishika Jalan, Satyendra D Rane, Nandita Desai, Dipti Desai, Vibha Sharma, Revathi Shivakumar, Adyot Rajadhyaksha, Vaishali Kanade, Viresh S Patali, Usha R Chhadva, Sajiya R Ansari, Tania, Vidhi Doshi, Shailaja S Kamat, Namya Gupta, Antara Tibrewala, Prashant Jadhav, Kasim Kanasavi, Anupama Mandavkar, Ram Awasthi, Jai Nanavati, Aadhya Shivakumar, Sumant Shetty and Smita Rane.
Sahayog has earned a name for itself for providing emerging artists with a platform to showcase their work alongside established artists, a rare opportunity not commonly found elsewhere. What’s more, this year’s exhibition also features artworks by senior citizens, taking inclusivity a level ahead. “I am thrilled to introduce a new dimension to our showcase this year, featuring beautiful works of senior citizens alongside established and emerging artists. It’s truly heartwarming to witness the diversity of passion within this group: from a dedicated teacher to a hospital owner who finds solace in painting every morning, to those who use art as a means to combat loneliness. Their works are nothing less than those of professionals,” imparted Satyendra Rane.
Sahayog Contemporary Art Exhibition has a longstanding reputation for extending its reach beyond just Art, leveraging its platform to champion various causes for the greater good. This time, collaborating with the non-profit organisation Alert Citizen Forum (ACF), the exhibition will raise funds for the cause of child welfare, contributing towards the organisation’s comprehensive efforts in education, healthcare, employment, and environmental sustainability. “ACF is doing commendable work in the realm of societal welfare. With the financial aid provided by Satyendra Rane in one of the earlier editions of Sahayog, they have built an entire school in Palghar, and I am glad that we are associating with them again this year. I am grateful that I am able to give back to society through the medium of my art,” shared co-curator Namya Gupta.
The 8th Sahayog Contemporary Art Exhibition will be on at the Nehru Centre Art Gallery in Worli until February 19, 2024, daily 11 am to 7 pm.
