Art and cinema connect deeply as Bond to Bachchan by Masha Art celebrates Bollywood’s enduring legacy, SAKSHI PRIYA
When art and cinema meet, they don’t just coexist, they create a vibrant and immersive experience that connects with audiences on a deep emotional level. The Bond to Bachchan exhibition, presented by Masha Art and curated by Georgina Maddox, is an exemplary showcase of this powerful union. Featuring 21 works by 15 artists, the exhibition explores the profound cultural impact of two cinematic legends, James Bond and Amitabh Bachchan.
The exhibition is a tribute to the enduring influence of these cinematic icons. It celebrates how Bond and Bachchan not only shaped the landscape of global pop culture but also continue to inspire artists, going beyond generations and inspiring fresh perspectives in modern-day art.
The exhibition, which serves as a preview to Masha Art's upcoming India Art Fair showcase, features a captivating collection of paintings, sculptures and digital installations. Each artwork Probes into the personas and cinematic journeys of Bond and Bachchan, offering viewers a fresh and creative lens through which they can reimagine these iconic figures.
Samarth Mathur, Founder and Managing Director of Masha Art, explains that the exhibition is a monumental celebration of cinema’s enduring influence on contemporary art. Each piece is a unique interpretation of the legacy of these figures, reflecting not just their roles on screen but also their emotional depth and the larger-than-life personas they have cultivated over decades.
One of the standout pieces of the exhibition is Golden Era in Cinema by Shri Kumar Adhikari. This stunning work merges Mughal miniature painting with the golden age of Indian cinema, particularly the 1960s and 1970s. Featuring iconic scenes from films like Sholay and Mera Naam Joker, the piece is a nostalgic tribute to Indian film history. Adhikari’s signature technique, which incorporates intricate Mughal detailing, is brought to life with contemporary touches using acrylics, giving the piece a fresh, modern twist.
Ankur Rana’s Smoke Up Bolly is another compelling painting featured in the exhibition. This piece is a tribute to the iconic Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman, widely regarded as one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in the Indian film industry. Rana’s artwork captures Zeenat Aman in all her glory, combining softness with boldness. The rising smoke in the painting symbolises the duality of her persona, embodying her magnetic presence and mysterious allure. Rana’s depiction of Aman is a fitting homage to her legacy, highlighting her unique contribution to the world of cinema and fashion during the 1970s and 1980s. The fluidity of the smoke creates a visual link between the stark contrasts in her on-screen roles, from the femme fatale to the heartthrob.
Another thought-provoking piece in the exhibition is Bridging Realms by Shovin Bhattacharjee. This mixed media sculpture incorporates stainless steel, fibre, light, acrylic and aluminium that represents the confluence of art, cinema and spirituality. Bhattacharjee explores the power of cinema to outdoes cultural boundaries and act as a unifying force. The spherical shape of the sculpture symbolises the intersection of multiple worlds, representing the smooth connection between the entertainment industry and the transformative power of storytelling. The piece also honours the resilience of individual voices and celebrates the roles of women in cinema, particularly within the context of the Bond and Bachchan legacies. Bhattacharjee’s work adds a layer of depth to the exhibition, drawing attention to how art, cinema and meditation all serve as vehicles for personal and societal change.
This exhibition truly remarkable is how deeply it engages viewers. People aren’t just walking past the art, they are stopping, reflecting and appreciating each piece with immense care and attention. Some viewers stand in front of particular works for several minutes, lost in the intricate details and rich symbolism. The works are so powerful that they almost seem to leap off the canvas, evoking emotions that mirror the feelings one experiences while watching a film. The connection between art and cinema becomes almost tangible, as each piece encapsulates a moment from cinematic history, inviting viewers to reflect on how these moments have influenced their own lives.
The collection of artworks immerses the viewer in a conversation between art and cinema, offering fresh perspectives on iconic figures from Indian cinema. The artists’ creative interpretations challenge traditional boundaries, making the exhibition a dynamic exploration of how cinema continues to inspire the visual arts.
In addition to the paintings and sculptures, Bond to Bachchan includes digital installations that merge visual storytelling with cutting-edge technology. These installations add another dimension to the exhibition, encouraging visitors to think critically about the role of technology in both cinema and contemporary art. The combination of traditional and digital mediums creates a layered experience, one that deepens our understanding of both art forms.
Bond to Bachchan a tribute to two cinematic icons and a celebration of the power of storytelling. Bond to Bachchan is an exhibition that should not be missed. It is a fascinating exploration of cinema’s cultural impact and its enduring influence on contemporary art, offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on two of the world’s most iconic cinematic figures.
PHOTOS : PANKAJ KUMAR
