Objects are not just about beauty but tell us about the world of the maker and the patron, their intentions, and the hazards they confronted. Now I realise that managing a retail store and managing a museum have great similarities, because in both, you are dealing with the public, inventory, events, display, customers, footfalls, targets how you manage people on the floor. My husband was chairman of a multinational, so I am very fortunate," she says. She cites the example of American museums, which-- unlike most European ones--must raise their own funds and have therefore become so adept at PR and marketing that they are dynamic institutions. "This is why many of my best projects have been with her," concedes Dilawari. We have a legal agreement and I am completely open to any kind of scrutiny. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta is the honorary director of the museum and has a Board of Management and Trustees that include the mayor and the municipal commissioner of Mumbai. As managing trustee and honorary director of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, Mehta conceptualized, curated, designed, and implemented the institutions restoration and revitalization. Pejoratives and putdowns hitting at immigrants have trademarked US presidential nominee, GST Mopup Rises 12% to 1.5 Lakh Crore in Feb, Decathlon in Talks with Indian Govt to Sell Other Brands, Moodys Raises India GDP Forecast to 5.5%, Tasneem Mehta bats NEXT. Whats their significance? Read 15 years of Mumbai Mirror's journalism here. Contemporary artists explored different aspects of this fraught history to provoke a rethinking of how we can perceive received histories. Museums have the ability to start dialogues on sensitive issues that shape our society, and they can also play a significant part in creating more conscious future generations. Before coming to Wellesley, Ahilya studied at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai. [6] As the editor, she interviewed prominent figures like Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, J.R.D. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. The city and the Museum developed together, each inflecting the other's evolution. The book starts with the making of Bombay through maps, sketches and memorials. Menu. The secret to her 33-year-old marriage, says Mehta, is giving space and sharing interests. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta has been deeply engaged with art and culture, especially of India, since she graduated from the Sir J.J. School of Art many years back. [The late] Bal Thackeray used to drink wine himself. For 24x7 updates on Mumbai and Maharashtra, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta: Making the past perfect. History repeats itself in different ways and by looking at the past we can perhaps reflect and understand the present better. Curators on what makes them pick some artworks over others; and the intersection of art with time The museum continues to hold discussions on climate change, health, and sustainability among other topics, which are all extremely well-received. Unlock incisive commentary only on Business Standard. ALSO READ: Forging solidarities across differences: Nancy Adajania. ", Writer and columnist Shobhaa De has been privy to Mehta's life, thanks to their four decade friendship. The art historian and cultural activist says museums need to respond to contemporary culture. ", Little notebooks and a phone planner are Mehta's tools to keep track of schedules that are planned 6-8 months in advance. No other museum has such a comprehensive collection of people of the city. Eminem apologizes to Rihanna in his lat Eminem apologizes to Rihanna in his latest song for siding with Chris Brown who assaulted her; says "I'm sorry, Ri". Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special price. Even film shootings have been stopped for now, as she wants to lie low for a bit. Even though the museum is a historic place, it was always meant to reflect contemporary design and innovation in the arts, showcasing the best examples of Indian craftsmanship that was in high demand in the international market. Also, I take criticism to heart." "She is just a caretaker. "She has created a jewel of a museum against daunting odds.". In Photos: Notable stars, artistes, actors, celebrities who bid us goodbye in 2020. The house, too, feels like a throwback to a lost era. In 2010, she was elected Vice Chairman of INTACH, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and has been the Convenor of the Mumbai Chapter and member of the Governing Council since 1996. Photo: Liz Ligon. for brother Fareed Zakaria, says anchor has an international accent, Assembly Elections 2023 Results Highlights, Terms of Use & Grievance Redressal Policy. ET Bureau Pejoratives and putdowns hitting at immigrants have trademarked US presidential nominee Donald Trump 's campaign. As Managing Trustee and Honorary Director of the museum since 2003 she has a future-forward approach to what she describes as a jewel box museum, rich with exhibits but also compact and easily navigable within an hour ortwo. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta is synonymous with the 144-year-old Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum (BDL). When it comes to curation, I feel there is a big lacuna in India. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta. "We want to make a difference in how the public feels about, views and engages with these artworks. Last Updated at February 3, 2018 05:58 IST. "I've spent 15 years doing pro bono work. In the sprawling home Tasneem shares with her husband Vikram Mehta, the eclectic art on the walls tells many stories; in particular, some of the canvases painted by prominent women artists reflect Tasneem's staunch commitment to feminism. The objects presented innovation in design and form to suit new tastes. Photos: Mumbai gets its very own cherry blossom season. She's done a good job, but BDL is not her private property," fumes corporator and MNS members Sandeep Deshpande. Veteran journalist Fatima R. Zakaria, the former Editor of the Sunday Times, Mumbai, and mother of renowned global media personality Fareed R. Zakaria, passed away here on Tuesday due to Covid at . I encourage the staff to do things on their own, but I treat it like a business. With piles of books scattered everywhere, the large office of art historian Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, managing trustee and honorary director of Mumbai's Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, looks eloquently cluttered. [4], Zakaria joined the Taj Group of Hotels to establish the first-rate five-star hotel, The Taj Residency, on the campus of Maulana Azad College of Arts and Science in Aurangabad. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which We start with the ongoing exhibitions, especially 'Games People Play' by the Delhi-based contemporary artist duo Thukral & Tagra. 05:58 IST. What you get on Business Standard Premium? YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Wasim Kapoor: Peoples painter, Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. Excerpts: How should museums evolve so that they do not become anachronistic? The British didnt use the word sculptor because they didnt want to dignify the craftsmen with the term. She insists I sit comfortably, though. The public-private partnership was formed in 2003, when the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) got together to manage the Museum. Vaish, an alumni of Baroda's MS University, who has taught at the Delhi College of Art and Kamala Raheja before coming to BDL, points out that ideas such as the Movies@Museum or screening artist movies, which would typically have a long conception-to-execution time at other places, have been executed at BDL in no time. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment, 1947: Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act passed, New BBC documentary puts Narendra Modi back in the dock, How Pathaan gives secular credentials of Bollywood a new boost of life, Beyond limits: On the Supreme Court order upholding J&K Delimitation Commission, IOC contradicts Adani over terms of port use agreement for LPG imports, Google India sacks 453 people from various operations, Barcelona 2-2 Man United highlights Europa League play-offs: No separating both the sides after a thrilling first-leg. Topics Mehta was not fazed. Another big exhibition is titled 'Kindred Nations', which is about a relationship between India and America that goes back to the 17th century. Currently, Paula is a writer and a teacher. The view itself is like a piece of art. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, curator of the ongoing exhibition, writes about how it visually addresses issues that plague modern society As the 21st century unfolds, new discoveries in science and technology have begun to transform our lives. I think thats the main reason she inspires me she has never sacrificed her passion for anyone or anything and has become so successful following it. PASSIONS/INTERESTS: Ive always wanted to study law. A silver replica of it was gifted to King George V and Queen Mary when they visited in 1911. Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Fareed Zakaria in 2023. Additionally, honesty is important to me because the truth is something that eventually comes out. "I've been doing everything according to the rule book." She has been associated with diverse fields like journalism, social work . The elder, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, is an art historian and writer, living in Mumbai. There is a lot of history being effaced, rewritten and re-contextualised, and the interpretation is not supported by fact or research. Read 15 years of Mumbai Mirror's journalism here. For example, Sheba Chhachhis work Mistry ke Haath depicts the photograph of a laid-off factory worker holding the last remnant of his working life, a floor tile, in his hands in a gesture of humble appeal. They held their wedding in 1997 in a wonderful ceremony. They cannot be abusive or personal. So, the museum curator in the early 20th century decided to focus on the city through its people represented by these miniature sculptures. When they are in town, Mehta hyperventilates if they wear shorts or hail taxis at night. The space now thrives as a venue for workshops, talks, lectures, craft melas, book sales and even a diploma course on Modern and Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice. United States. The exhibition would be looking at the history of photography in India. View cookie policy. The museum was meant to present these products of trade pottery, decorative crafts, building material, minerals, seeds, plants, medicinal herbs and teas. Insightful news, sharp views, newsletters, e-paper, and more! Veteran journalist Fatima R. Zakaria, the former Editor of the Sunday Times, Mumbai, and mother of renowned global media personality Fareed R. Zakaria, passed away here on Tuesday due to Covid. "I'm trying to take everyone along, convincing them that this vision benefits everybody, including the BMC corporators." . Tasneem Zakaria Mehta 5.00 2 ratings2 reviews Museum objects are time machines. The Presidency was important, but it was really about the city. In a moment of insanity -- in retrospect -- I insisted that we -- my husband and children in tow --board one of those ferries and head to Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World heritage site. Tasneem Zakaria Mehta is an art historian, curator, and cultural activist, best known for bringing the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum (BDL) in Mumbai out of obscurity. That's our success." A mashrabiyya screen separates the desk from the living area. Copies of accounts submitted to and stamped by the BMC make their way to this writer's mailbox in no time. The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai is pleased to host a solo exhibition by artist Praneet Soi from May 15 to July 25.Titled Notes on Labour and curated by Tasneem Zakaria Mehta and assisted by Himanshu Kadam.This exhibition is a continuation of the Museum's exhibition series "Engaging Traditions," which invites contemporary artists to work with the Museum's . This New York Apartment Designed by Shamir Shah is Quintessentially Big Apple in Charm and Character, The Grand Affair That is Roohi and Chetan Jaikishans Mumbai Apartment, The Fabulous Homes of Our Countrys Top Art Patrons, Read Our November-December 2017 Art Issue, GQ India | VOGUE India | Cond Nast Traveller India. "I wore a six-pocket, three-fourth pair of shorts on my first day and got an earful," says Pawar. Curatorial Director: Tasneem Zakaria Mehta 19 May 2022 - 04 Oct 2022 New Found Lands: The Indian Landscape from Empire to Freedom In collaboration with DAG Curated by Dr. Giles Tillotson Nov 27, 2021 - Apr 19, 2022 Birds of India: Company Paintings, c. 1800 to 1835 . 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. It was the engine driving the whole country. We won UNESCOs highest award for the restoration work we did in 2005, which gave this until-then-unknown jewel of a museum back to Mumbai. 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