Delhi's Gallery Espace Celebrates 35 Years Of Artistry With Year-Long Events

Gallery Espace, one of India’s most iconic art galleries, is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a series of events highlighting its legacy in contemporary Indian art. The gallery opened its doors in 1989 with a show by Modernist legend MF Hussain and has planned a year of exhibitions, lectures, and special publications to mark its journey.

Kicking off the celebrations is Ancestral Futures, an exhibition curated by Swiss curator Damien Christinger, renowned for his deep, thought-provoking approach to art. From October 18 to December 12, 2024, at Gallery Espace, the exhibition will feature Indian and European artists exploring the gallery’s past while imagining future art practices.

Reflecting on Gallery Espace's journey, Renu Modi commented, "We are proud to have spent 35 years fostering creativity, promoting dialogue, and expanding horizons in contemporary art. Collaborations, pioneering exhibitions, and a deep commitment to artistic expression have marked our journey. For the past 35 years, our gallery has been driven by a singular vision: to redefine the art experience by championing innovation and embracing the unconventional. We don’t just showcase art; we cultivate a dialogue between the unexpected and the extraordinary, setting ourselves apart by pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and inspiring a new way of seeing the world."

The Schedule

The 35th-anniversary show, titled Memory Fields, curated by Gayatri Sinha, will be held at Bikaner House from November 29 to December 12, 2024, before moving to Gallery Espace from December 18 to January 15, 2025. This showcase will bring together works from iconic artists like MF Husain, Manjit Bawa, Nilima Sheikh, and others who have played a significant role in the gallery’s history.

In addition to exhibitions, Gallery Espace has scheduled a series of lectures. The inaugural Gallery Espace Lecture will be delivered by Mallica Kumbert Landrus on February 3, 2025, with another lecture dedicated to Zarina Hashmi planned for July 2025. The gallery has long championed Zarina’s work, and this event will honour her artistic legacy.

To commemorate this special occasion, Gallery Espace will also release two books of essays, ensuring that the rich legacy of the artists it has supported over the years continues to inspire future generations.