Air India’s prized art collection comes to B’luru

Over 180 paintings and sculptures, once part of Air India’s famed collection, will be showcased at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru starting March 7. The exhibition includes works commissioned from legends like Salvador Dalí and M F Husain.

The larger collection, numbering in the thousands, was transferred from Air India’s iconic Mumbai office to NGMA Delhi following an MoU between the aviation and culture ministries in 2023. These artworks once adorned Air India’s offices and lounges worldwide, spanning New York, London, Singapore and Tokyo. In the pre-Internet era, they provided global travellers a glimpse of Indian heritage.

Titled ‘Sanhita’ (meaning ‘coming together’), the Bengaluru exhibition will display paintings, primarily in oil, and sculptures in metal, stone, papier-maché, and wood. Fifteen of these works are equipped with Braille and Indian Sign Language features.

While most artworks boast the signature styles of the artists — from S H Raza’s use of vivid colours to Husain’s horse motif — a few pay tribute to Air India, which returned to the Tata Group 69 years after being nationalised. Subarna Patro, who has curated the show with Darshan Kumar Y U, says, “We have caricatures by Mario Miranda, depicting the airline’s inception and special gatherings, along with an Avinash Godbole painting of Air India’s mascot, the Maharajah. Souvenirs, including miniatures of Air India planes, are also on display.”

A standout piece is a 3D ceramic artwork by Dalí, which Patro explains: “It’s an ashtray. J R D Tata (founder of the airline) bought it from Dalí. In return, Dalí requested a baby elephant, which was flown to him in Europe on Air India.” The exhibition coincides with the reopening of NGMA’s renovated auditorium and the celebration of its 16th foundation day.

Patronage

According to Patro, Air India began acquiring and commissioning art in the 1960s, with notable artists such as B Prabha, V S Gaitonde, Jatin Das, Arpana Caur, and Anjolie Ela Menon contributing to the collection.

Many early works came from the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group. Over time, regional diversity grew, with works by Sakti Burman from the east, S G Vasudev, R B Bhaskaran and Achuthan K from the south, and Kanchan C from up north, among others.

It was a mutually beneficial relationship: artists gained institutional support and global exposure, while the national carrier showcased India’s cultural richness. “Prabha even designed the window panels for long-haul Boeing 747 flights, primarily featuring floral motifs,” he adds. Then-emerging artists made paintings in exchange for free flights, he continues.

‘Sanhita’ opens on March 7, 5 pm, at NGMA Bengaluru, Palace Road. On view for six months, from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays). Call 2234 2338.