Paul Fernandes, best known for his sketches and paintings of Bangalore's charming past, has now turned his eye on Mumbai. This month, he is organising an exhibition that will feature 11 images that capture Mumbai life in the '70s and '80s, with iconic landmarks in the background and the vibrant population in the fore.
“It struck me that if you want to draw something of 30 years ago, you need those 30 years to understand the difference,” said Fernandes. “If you were to draw something that happens today, you would not grasp the essence of it now. It needs that period of time for things like say nostalgia or any of those emotions to set in.”
Fernandes, who lives in Bangalore, is a frequent visitor to Mumbai, where his wife's family lives. But three decades ago, he spent four years working at the Trikaya advertising agency downtown. Flat rents not being worth several human kidneys at that time, he managed to get a flat in nearby Colaba, which allowed him to walk and cycle to work.
This, he said, helped him to see the city much better, and it is a practice he continues even today. Several of his paintings show figures he noticed while roaming the city in those years. A policeman leans back against his bike in Flora Fountain with a camera, indicating to a couple to move closer to get into the frame. A man and woman on scooter and sidecar in Colaba raise their hands in unison to indicate traffic to stop.
Each painting takes around 15-20 days to complete, if he has an idea ready in his head. If not, he does not even bother to begin. His oldest Mumbai painting is Amchi Mumbai, started 12 years ago and finished six months ago. The 3.5 by 2.5 foot canvas has hundreds of people clustered in and around Flora Fountain.
Fernandes’ set of Bangalore paintings began when his house was demolished and gave way to larger apartment buildings. His paintings of Mumbai so far reflect the places he lived and roamed in. While these iconic landmarks still exist, the people around them have changed.
Many fans of this his Bangalore paintings admit they like them because they give people an idea of how their parents used to live.
“The idea is to draw landmarks that people are familiar with and try to get into it a feeling of how it used to be without chaos and a million people around it,” said Fernandes. “One is trying to do nothing but a slice of life.”
Mumbai will not be the sole subject of his show. Other walls will include tributes to Bangalore, Goa, and Mangalore. Fernandes will also sell merchandise and books.
“Bombay has such a long and wonderful history and it’s that history that makes it what it is,” he said. “That is the vibrant, wonderful part of it. If you go to a modern city like Singapore, they get misty-eyed and teary about things that happened ten years ago.
Here is a selection of images from his exhibition.
aPaulogy, Mumbai, will open in 2B Mohatta Bhavan, E Moses Road, Worli on December 14. His website can be viewed here.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
“It struck me that if you want to draw something of 30 years ago, you need those 30 years to understand the difference,” said Fernandes. “If you were to draw something that happens today, you would not grasp the essence of it now. It needs that period of time for things like say nostalgia or any of those emotions to set in.”
Fernandes, who lives in Bangalore, is a frequent visitor to Mumbai, where his wife's family lives. But three decades ago, he spent four years working at the Trikaya advertising agency downtown. Flat rents not being worth several human kidneys at that time, he managed to get a flat in nearby Colaba, which allowed him to walk and cycle to work.
This, he said, helped him to see the city much better, and it is a practice he continues even today. Several of his paintings show figures he noticed while roaming the city in those years. A policeman leans back against his bike in Flora Fountain with a camera, indicating to a couple to move closer to get into the frame. A man and woman on scooter and sidecar in Colaba raise their hands in unison to indicate traffic to stop.
Each painting takes around 15-20 days to complete, if he has an idea ready in his head. If not, he does not even bother to begin. His oldest Mumbai painting is Amchi Mumbai, started 12 years ago and finished six months ago. The 3.5 by 2.5 foot canvas has hundreds of people clustered in and around Flora Fountain.
Fernandes’ set of Bangalore paintings began when his house was demolished and gave way to larger apartment buildings. His paintings of Mumbai so far reflect the places he lived and roamed in. While these iconic landmarks still exist, the people around them have changed.
Many fans of this his Bangalore paintings admit they like them because they give people an idea of how their parents used to live.
“The idea is to draw landmarks that people are familiar with and try to get into it a feeling of how it used to be without chaos and a million people around it,” said Fernandes. “One is trying to do nothing but a slice of life.”
Mumbai will not be the sole subject of his show. Other walls will include tributes to Bangalore, Goa, and Mangalore. Fernandes will also sell merchandise and books.
“Bombay has such a long and wonderful history and it’s that history that makes it what it is,” he said. “That is the vibrant, wonderful part of it. If you go to a modern city like Singapore, they get misty-eyed and teary about things that happened ten years ago.
Here is a selection of images from his exhibition.
Bawa Nu Bliss.
Fauna and Flora at the Fountain.
Fresh catch at Sassoon Dock.
Full house.
In top gear on Marine Drive.
Leisures and pleasures on the Causeway.
aPaulogy, Mumbai, will open in 2B Mohatta Bhavan, E Moses Road, Worli on December 14. His website can be viewed here.
