An exhibition in Chennai is revisiting the city’s artistic past by celebrating the long journey of one of South India’s most influential galleries. The show reflects on how a family-run art space helped shape the modern art ecosystem in the region over the past six decades. To mark its 60th anniversary, Sarala’s Art Centre is …
Chennai Exhibition Revisits Six Decades of Sarala Art Centre Legacy
An exhibition in Chennai is revisiting the city’s artistic past by celebrating the long journey of one of South India’s most influential galleries. The show reflects on how a family-run art space helped shape the modern art ecosystem in the region over the past six decades.
To mark its 60th anniversary, Sarala’s Art Centre is presenting an exhibition titled Garden of Memories I at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai. The show brings together artworks by more than 150 artists who have been associated with the gallery over the years, offering a glimpse into its long-standing relationships with artists across generations.
Founded in 1965 by Soli J. Daruwala and Moti Daruwala, the gallery emerged at a time when India’s art scene was largely concentrated in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Chennai had few spaces where contemporary artists could display their work or interact with collectors. Sarala’s Art Centre helped fill that gap by creating a platform where artists and art lovers could connect.
Over the decades, the gallery has showcased works by several prominent Indian artists, including M. F. Husain, Ram Kumar, K. C. S. Paniker, and Akbar Padamsee. Through exhibitions and collaborations, it contributed to expanding awareness of modern and contemporary Indian art in South India.
The anniversary exhibition brings together a diverse mix of paintings, sculptures, and prints. Some pieces are archival works that have rarely been displayed before, while others were created specifically for the occasion. The collection reflects both the history of the gallery and the evolving styles and themes in Indian art.
Unlike a tightly curated show centred on a single theme, the exhibition focuses on memories and relationships. According to the organisers, the artworks represent decades of conversations and collaborations between the gallery and the artists it has supported.
Today, Sarala’s Art Centre continues to operate across generations of the Daruwala family, illustrating how a small gallery built on passion and personal connections has become an enduring part of Chennai’s cultural landscape.
