South Mumbai's Gallery Maskara approached us with what would turn out to be the first RS studio project realised -- the creation of a temporary gallery at Taj Lands End.
Maskara, along with six other galleries based in Colaba, had floated the idea of an event, the Mumbai Gallery Weekend, with a view to collaboratively showcasing their works in the suburbs of the city. The intention behind MGW was to create a new client base in Bandra and beyond and we were brought on board to convert the venue, the Taj Ballroom, into an exhibition space.
We were given 24 hours' execution time, within which the hotel's opulent ballroom had to be transformed into the optimum art space; a neutral background, with prefabricated walls brought on-site and installed, adjustable lighting and the cloaking of all distractions to the display.
Instead of allotting a section apiece within the venue to each of the seven galleries, we decided on a different approach; we created display areas based on the works being showcased. The large floor plan of the banquet hall was divided into different zones relating to their characteristics -- size, viewing distance and various mediums such as digital works and sculpture. Art from across the galleries was compiled in this manner along the lines of museum exhibits, allowing for the many to be represented as one.
