Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:May 22, 2025, 11:22 IST
These exhibitions not only showcase the depth and diversity of contemporary art in India but also invite viewers to engage, reflect, and discover new perspectives
Must-See Art Shows in Mumbai This June: 5 Unmissable Exhibitions
Mumbai’s art scene is buzzing with energy this June, offering a rich tapestry of experiences for art lovers and curious minds alike. As the city continues to establish itself as a cultural powerhouse, its galleries and creative spaces are curating exhibitions that reflect both India’s vibrant artistic heritage and its bold, contemporary pulse. From thought-provoking installations to cutting-edge digital art and masterful canvases that span genres and generations, there’s something for every aesthetic appetite. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply someone who enjoys a good visual story, these five must-see art exhibitions promise to ignite inspiration, spark conversation, and reaffirm why Mumbai remains at the heart of India’s creative renaissance.
Manoj Jain – It Didn’t Ask to Be Art
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Renowned lensman Manoj Kumar Jain is set to make his much-anticipated solo debut with the evocatively titled exhibition It Didn’t Ask to Be Art, curated by Dheeya Soumaiya. The show will open with a special preview on May 31st at Soho House, Juhu, from 5 to 10 p.m., and will welcome the public from June 1st, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Known for his expansive visual vocabulary that spans poignant human stories, striking celebrity portraits, and conceptual still-life compositions, Jain brings a deeply personal lens to this new body of work. Rather than focusing on visual perfection, the exhibition explores raw emotional truths—images that speak less to constructed beauty and more to vulnerability, memory, and the imperfect poetry of life. This marks a significant moment in Jain’s artistic journey, offering audiences a rare chance to engage with the mind and eye of a storyteller who has long observed the world with empathy and quiet brilliance.
Venue: Soho House, Juhu
Shikh Sabbir Alam – Bon-Manush
Shikh Sabbir Alam’s Bon-Manush, his first solo exhibition in India and at the gallery, is currently on view at Experimenter Colaba, Mumbai, from May 8th to June 21st, 2025. A deeply contemplative series of paintings, the exhibition serves as a meditation on the fragile and often paradoxical relationship between humans and the natural world. Drawing from the philosophical concept of Bon-Manush—the ‘forest man’—Alam examines the universal life force that binds all living beings, delving into the dualities that nature presents: serenity and savagery, growth and decay, wonder and fear. His artworks are rich in symbolism and emotion, inviting viewers to reassess their perceptions of nature not as a passive backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence intertwined with human existence. Bon-Manush is not just a visual experience, but a lyrical inquiry into the essence of life and our place within its vast, untamed rhythms.
Venue: Experimenter, Colaba
Anirban Mitra – I Dissect Therefore I Am
Anirban Mitra’s I Dissect Therefore I Am, on view from May 8th to June 7th, 2025, as part of Art Night Thursday, is an evocative exploration of fragmented identities and layered histories. His artworks unfold like illuminated scrolls—dense, nonlinear, and teeming with references that span popular culture, mythology, anatomical studies, regional science fairs, and colonial narratives. With no single focal point, each canvas invites viewers to wander through a maze of imagery that challenges passive viewing. Mitra reimagines the human body not through flesh and bone, but through electrical fittings and circuitry, rendered in vibrant neon shades reminiscent of advertising and urban signage. This anatomical language becomes a metaphor for the mechanized, commodified body in postcolonial society. Like a visual surgeon, Mitra dissects and reconstructs cultural symbols, posing incisive questions about our consumerist tendencies and the ghosts of empire that still linger in contemporary life. Bold, intricate, and deeply thought-provoking, I Dissect Therefore I Am is a powerful testament to Mitra’s unique voice in India’s contemporary art landscape.
Venue: Sakshi Gallery, Colaba
Dheeraj Jadhav – Inheritance of a Feeling
Inheritance of a Feeling by Mumbai-based artist Dheeraj Jadhav is a deeply introspective exhibition that navigates the intimate terrain of memory, emotion, and cultural lineage. On view from May 16th to June 15th, 2025, the show presents a compelling series of monochromatic inkblot works that blur the line between the personal and the collective. Drawing inspiration from ancestral symbols and Banjara folklore, Jadhav constructs a visual language that is both abstract and evocative. His inkblots—fluid, asymmetrical, and richly textured—function as emotional Rorschach tests, inviting viewers to reflect on their own inner landscapes. The absence of symmetry in these works speaks to the organic, often unpredictable nature of memory and identity. In a striking departure from the predominantly black-and-white palette, one coloured work emerges as a quiet moment of transformation, symbolising emotional evolution or a shift in consciousness. Through this meditative collection, Jadhav offers not only an artistic exploration, but also a space for viewers to inherit, confront, and interpret the feelings that shape us across generations.
Venue: Method Kala Ghoda
Kala Connect Art Exhibition 2025
Kala Connect Art Exhibition 2025 is set to light up Mumbai’s cultural calendar with a vivid celebration of artistic expression from May 30th to June 1st at the Nehru Centre. Curated with care and vision, this immersive exhibition is more than just a display—it’s a dynamic platform designed to connect people through the power of art. With a diverse lineup of both established and emerging artists, Kala Connect promises a refreshing mix of mediums, styles, and perspectives. From bold contemporary canvases to intricate traditional forms, visitors will experience a sweeping panorama of creative storytelling. Whether you’re an avid art collector or a curious enthusiast, this three-day event invites you to step into a world where imagination meets canvas and creativity takes centre stage—making Kala Connect not just an exhibition, but a movement celebrating the unifying spirit of art.
Venue: Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Worli
These five exhibitions not only showcase the depth and diversity of contemporary art in India but also invite viewers to engage, reflect, and discover new perspectives. Whether it’s through the lens of heritage, nature, human emotion, or conceptual exploration, each show offers a distinct experience that resonates beyond the gallery walls. So step into these spaces, let your senses guide you, and allow Mumbai’s dynamic art scene to leave a lasting impression on your creative soul.
- First Published:
May 22, 2025, 11:22 IST
SOURCE : NEWS 18
