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Transition areas hold poignant reflection as connecting links as they silver-tongue India’s awe-inspiring historic narrative on the ongoing ‘India and the World: A History in Nine Stories’ exhibition on the CSMVS, Mumbai…

The din of the outside world ceased to exist, when I entered a dark hall and set sight on two stone hand axes from India and Tanzania glistening within the distance, beckoning to be ‘discovered’. The singular radiance of these and other objects like pottery, as soon as found in dark caves, but now sharing an ephemeral house within these coarsely-textured, contoured walls… reminiscent of the traditional metropolis of Petra.

Stepping from one object of intrigue to a different, I silently acknowledged a seamless spatial sequence that was taking me via the exhibition, wholesomely participating me in an immersive, uninterrupted viewing experience. Every one of the 200 objects and works of art from museums in the Indian subcontinent and the British Museum in London are positioned in a state of juxtaposition, at all times in dialogue with each other.

Architects Brinda Somaya and Nandini Sampat of Somaya & Kalappa Consultants, who’re the exhibition designers for this imagistic sumptuousness have tried to create a visual metaphor for the cyclical nature of time using the metonymy museum design technique. The end result: the exhibition generates a collective narrative – that of the story of ‘Time’ as seen by way of the lens of India in opposition to the backdrop of similar occurrences in other parts of the world – even because it presents an perception into the story behind each of its 200-odd objects.

The meticulous design of the broad sections – from the prehistoric interval to the current – is an train in congruence and context. Defined by one-off atmospheres and accentuated by colors, textures and theme-based elements, spaces carry a unique narrative. For example, the placement of deep-red panels with graphic ornate columns and two gateway objects – fragmented pillars from the Mauryan and Achaemenid Persian empires – marks the emergence of scale and grandeur within the age of empires.

In stark contrast, the neutral silver-grey background of the ‘State and Faith’ part highlights treasured cash plastered with the imagery of rulers and their faith. In ‘Picturing the Divine’, each religious sculpture instructions consideration; yet, converses with the opposite.

Further alongside, a deep blue room brimming with porcelain, textiles and tomb stones chronicles the dissemination of knowledge, culture and custom thanks to maritime commerce by way of the Indian Ocean; while a stately grey-washed space holds objects from Indian courts mirrored by objects from international courts, segregated by an archway.

As I move up the steps into the subsequent all-white space interspersed with meshes, the narrative depicting globalization and transparency, it dawns on me – it’s at junctions similar to these that the entire level of the exhibition turns into clear.

It is not the history of India. It is but one of many historical discourses of India interpolated against the relatable happenings all over the world throughout the identical time-frame. Viewing the objects in juxtaposition thus, makes for mesmeric delight for a historical past and culture buff like me.

I see myself approaching darkness, as soon as once more – the sensation unlike that tangible second of discovery within the cavernous first section. My thoughts floats through the all-black space of ‘Time Unbound’, the place LN Thallur’s Unicode, surrounded by mirrors and darkness, augments this seemingly infinite nature of time. I stand. Additional info stare. I imbibe…slowly making approach to exit the vortex, and as soon as again encounter the chaotic realities of our world.

Exhibition: India & the world: a history in nine tales Venue: CSMVS Museum, 159-161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai- 400032 Dates: Nov. eleven – Feb.18, 2017 Timing: 10.15 am – 6 pm

check out the pictures on indiaartndesign.com

Related Articles – history, museum, exhibition design, show design, institutional architecture, interactive design, India and the world,

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