Michalgorge at 08:50, 5 July 2023

2023-07-05T08:50:47Z

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{{Short description|Upcoming museum in Kolkata, India}}

{{Use dmy dates}}{{Use Indian English}}

The '''Jamini Roy Museum''' is a planned museum coming up in the former residence of artist [[Jamini Roy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |last2=ThePrint |title=Kolkata house of veteran artist Jamini Roy to be turned into museum: DAG |url=https://theprint.in/india/kolkata-house-of-veteran-artist-jamini-roy-to-be-turned-into-museum-dag/1481772/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Artist Jamini Roy's Kolkata house to become museum: DAG |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/artist-jamini-roys-kolkata-house-to-become-museum-dag-1204761.html |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> In early 2023, DAG (formerly, the Delhi Art Gallery) acquired Roy's residence{{Dash}}a 75 year old structure located in [[Ballygunge]], [[Kolkata]]. The house would be turned into a modern museum opening the doors to the creative world of Jamini Roy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Sreyashi |title=Jamini Roy family says 'prayers answered'. His house-museum a window to modern Bengali art |url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/jamini-roy-family-says-prayers-answered-his-house-museum-a-window-to-modern-bengali-art/1507969/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home and the world of Jamini Roy, India’s first private single-artist museum |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2023/apr/16/home-and-the-world-ofjamini-royindias-first-private-single-artist-museum-2565635.html |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

Regarded as India's first privately owned [[single-artist museum]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Vaaswat |title=Modernist Master Jamini Roy's House Will Become India's First Private Artist Museum |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/modernist-master-jamini-roys-house-will-become-indias-first-private-artist-museum |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How private art museums can be niche spaces for art lovers {{!}} The Financial Express |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/how-private-art-museums-can-be-niche-spaces-for-art-lovers/3038994/lite/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=www.financialexpress.com}}</ref> DAG is aiming to complete the project by 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kolkata house of veteran artist Jamini Roy to be turned into museum: DAG |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/jamini-roy-kolkata-house-museum-dag-8528474/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jamini Roy’s home to be turned into museum at Ballygunge Place & opened in 2024 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/jamini-roys-home-to-be-turned-into-museum-at-ballygunge-place-opened-in-2024/cid/1925776 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> The museum will have a rotational show and a cafe with a modern ambience. Additionally, it will function as a landmark for artists and tourists from across India and the world, helping to preserve Jamini Roy's work and legacy.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Inside the DAG x Jamini Roy house |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/dag-jamini-roy-house-art-museum-kolkata-ballygunge-place-ashish-anand/article66790067.ece |access-date=2023-06-03 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ballygunge Calling |url=https://openthemagazine.com/art-culture/ballygunge-calling/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Open The Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> Prominent examples of this type of museum from across the world include the [[Munch Museum]] in [[Norway]] created at the site where [[Edvard Munch]] lived and worked, the [[Frida Kahlo Museum]] in [[Mexico]], and the [[Fondation Monet in Giverny|Foundation Claude Monet]] in [[France]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The house where Jamini Roy lived |url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com//how-to-lounge/art-culture/the-house-where-jamini-roy-lived-111680838921360.html |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Mintlounge |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
In 1949, Jamini Roy had shifted from his erstwhile house at [[Bagbazar|Baghbazar]] to the new residence in Ballygunge, which was designed and conceived by himself and his son Amiya.<ref name=":0" /> He lived and continued to work here in his studio till his death in 1972.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=A walk through Jamini Roy’s house at Ballygunge Place |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/a-walk-through-jamini-roys-house-at-ballygunge-place/cid/1929316 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> The house during its heyday was open to all people, and distinguished personalities of the time would then come to visit and interact with the artist. The house had seen visitors like [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Sarojini Naidu]], [[Indira Gandhi]] along with [[Rajiv Gandhi|Rajiv]] and [[Sanjay Gandhi]], former chief ministers of West Bengal [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray|Siddhartha Shankar Roy]], [[Jyoti Basu]], and [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee|Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]], and other illustrious dignitaries from across the world.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Stamp_of_India_-_1978_-_Colnect_326685_-_Jamini_Roy.jpeg|thumb|Stamp of India - 1978 - Colnect 326685 - Jamini Roy]]
One of the most significant events in the household was the [[Pohela Boishakh|Bengali New Year]] celebrations, that coincided with the artist's birthday. On that day, several visitors including neighbours, and guests, came to the house and were served a special [[Sharbat (beverage)|sherbet]], sweets and [[Samosa|shingara]]. All were treated equally and offered wooden stools with a sheet of paper for cushion.<ref name=":1" />

== The plan ==
A DAG note outlines how the ground floor was reserved as the studio space for the artist, while there were separate entrances to the private spaces upstairs where the family members lived. The house covering an area of 7,284 sq. ft. has a distinct feature of the staircase with glass panels stretched from the entrance to the terrace. The grilles on the green slatted windows have a diamond motif designed by the artist himself. The family had rented the ground floor to a bank which had led to major alterations in the studio space.<ref name=":4" />

After the property was acquired, DAG proposed to restore the ground floor to the original studio format of the artist, while the first and the second floors would be converted into galleries devoted to exhibitions curated around Roy's life and art. For instance, the "Christ room" where the artist displayed works from his famous [[Jesus|Christ]] series would once again be recreated giving the viewers a taste of art history. The museum would be designed by leading conservation architects and designers. There would also be a library, a resource centre, and a museum shop. The ample open spaces would be utilised for conducting workshops, and live performances.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Ashish Anand, the CEO and managing director of DAG, asserted that this would the company's single most important project.<ref name=":3" /> The project has been inspired by Casa Azul, the place designed and dedicated to Frida Kahlo in Mexico.<ref name=":3" /> The aim of the house-museum is to retain the unique modernist [[Swadeshi movement|''swadeshi'']] idiom that was typical of Roy's works. The family members who were finding it difficult to maintain the lavish property said that their "collective prayers were answered" when DAG approached them to acquire the museum and convert it into a museum.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:2024 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Museums devoted to one artist]]
[[Category:Modern art museums]]
[[Category:Art museums and galleries in Kolkata]]

Jamini Roy Museum - Revision history

Michalgorge at 08:50, 5 July 2023