Julian Opie is a visual artist from Britain and this particular exhibition of his, called WINTER, is currently traveling all over the world and to a few cities in India as well. The British Council in New Delhi has a new Gallery space ( the old one’s been expanded / renovated ) and they are displaying Julian’s work ( 75 pieces ) from the 15th of May till the 27th of July 2015. Chetan Seth, whose new food venture called CAARA was catering food for the evening, invited me for the previe. CAARA is going to be the cafe at The Gallery at the British Council as well. Even though it was very short notice, it is hard to turn down art and food at the same place so there I was. As usual the first to arrive!
It is a wonderful exhibit! The space is much larger than before and it was serene and calm. Each person interprets art in their own way – some don’t at all. I’m a reluctant admirer of art, especially modern art, where I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel. I enjoyed Julian’s work at this exhibition for two main reasons. Since I was the first on the scene, there was no one else to judge my ignorance. Secondly, on one particular wall, as I looked from frame to frame, I realized it looked like these were sequential panels of the artist traveling on the road. Trees that we stubs in the previous panels, loomed large in the next ones. Poles got bigger and bigger. Houses got bigger too! I GOT IT! ( Downside of being the first one on the scene? I didn’t have anyone to tell that I HAD UNDERSTOOD ART! )
The exhibition is called WINTER and the color palette on the pieces is muted and almost monochrome. Green, brown, some grey. Two of my favourite pieces were the one that has birds in it – probably stood out because of this unique aspect. The second one is the one that has a person in it! The only one. By the time I was leaving, I also spotted one that probably has a dog in it as well. How curious. Loved these little details. They made me happy.
I hadn’t heard of Julian Opie earlier and I love this process of being invited for an event and discovering a wonderful artist who has been creating art since way before I was even born! Also got to eat lovely food and meet lovely people.
See above and below? This is the wall where I figured out the poles and trees were getting closer.
The one above with the birds. The one below with the human.
Met the lovely Preetika of Harper’s Bazaar and below Siddhartth, Shivan and Narresh!
Above, Rob Lynes who is Country Director for the British Council in India since 2011, introducing the exhibition to the preview audience. To his left is artist Ghulam Sheikh.
A quick selfie with Julian’s beautiful work before we hit the bar and the food!
After a long time, an event with a well-stocked bar. Otherwise most events these days in Delhi are only-wine events. I love beer. This one had beer. Awesome evening!
Luckily the weather in Delhi the last few days has been splendid. The mist-fans were a great idea amongst all the stone and I did hear someone remarking that they recalled more greenery at this location earlier.
The food by CAARA – they were all canapes – was really nicely done! The chefs that has served dinner at the Spanish Embassy’s Habanos Glenfiddich evening are the ones behind CAARA. The snack above was one of my two favourites. The one below was also amazing – caramelized onions are da bomb.
The spinach bites above were tasty but the fish and chips below were so-so. The presentation of the food and serving staff were very good.
This above was my second favourite! CARROT CAKE! And how soft and delicious this was!
One quick customary loo selfie before I leave.
I rode Uber Delhi both ways and got great chauffeurs both times – cost about Rs. 400 each side! I’m so glad the service is finally not only available again but that I no longer had to sullenly stare my phone screen when no cabs show in Noida. Now even Noida has great and frequent service. An Uber cab is usually about 15 minutes away. Which works great for me. If you have never tried out Uber, and would like to do it with a discount, use my code 3AJNL, you’ll get a discount and I will too!
Thank you for inviting me Chetan!
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