Oh, how happy I am! It's always a joy to know new things. I attended a public lecture last night on Ancient Board Games in India and World. It was a fascinating insight into something that originated centuries ago and then spread and grew all over the world. I am not into games. I never was. However, I attended the lecture because it was conducted by Dr. Irving Finkel who is also a curator of the cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, at the British Museum. I have a rather high regard and respect for museums, ever since I was a kid. My Dad being the reason. I remember our city trips in summer would be to the museums. Mumbai has two: The Prince of Wales now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum; and Dr. Bhau Daji Lad museum. We always attended the exhibitions and spent hours on end, watching transfixed the sculptures, paintings and exhibits. It was all I could ever want from my father- Time and wisdom! Museums are an education in themselves.
My first impression of Dr. Bhau Daji Lad museum was of awe and curiosity for I spotted a tall marble sculpture right at the entrance then. I was amazed by the form and carving. It was a first for me. The museum especially stays in my memory also because this is where I first found out about the Bengal Art Renaissance movement. I happened to meet an elderly artist who very kindly explained me the nuances of art as they could be explained to a nine year old. She showed me the right distance to view a painting from, which I suppose I would have had to read about in books and not until I would have turned to an age where I understood art. Such artists and people are so rare to come across. Now when I visit art exhibitions, all that really happens is I watch in solitary space while the artists are no where to be seen. The very idea of art exhibitions allowing a discussion between the artists and the viewers seems to be lost. And I certainly moan it.
In June this year, I took my 14 year old cousin to visit the museum. It was my first visit too in years. He seemed particularly interested in the warfare section, which I suppose all boys his age are. Then, we went up the first floor where the ancient board games exhibit was put up along with elevated large scale model maps of Mumbai. It was truly so enlightening. These days, when visual mediums have taken over all forms of communication and information exchange, it was wonderful to view large paper scrolls with informative know how of the objects. Of course, as I always feel, parents must guide their children in museums. They must teach the kids to develop the vision to look at art or objects on display. A good way of doing this is reading and explaining the information on scrolls and sharing their opinions. This is how my Dad and me went along on our visits. I would ask him questions and we would try and find answers through the information kiosks and the booklets accompanying the exhibitions. I remember the time we saw the Egyptian Mummy on display at the Prince of Wales museum, not too long ago. Both of us were equally fascinated by the well-preserved mummy and the other related objects.
Even as a grown up when I felt the same excitement and curiosity, I was secretly pleased with myself. This is what museums do. They document our own life events too. Each visit of mine is engraved so clear and fresh, that sometimes I feel I could just pick up from that moment and carry on. There are many museums I visited in course of travels in different cities. My favorite remains Victoria Memorial Museum in Calcutta. The sheer vastness of the museum premises and the exquisite architectural details have me charmed till now. It was an amazing experience, being part of history, moving through the corridors of art and architecture engulfed with such riches. I lost myself there in entirety. I cannot put to words my happiness of discovering the oil paintings and huge canvases of the best art work known so far. I hungrily wanted to devour everything and put it into a memory chalet or something even bigger than that. The Indian museum too, provided the same happiness. Oh, I was so glad for that short trip. The next thing that I wish to do is visit all these sacred places of art and architecture, in India and around the world. It's the next best place to find happiness within. :)
Comments
Post a Comment