Spend A Day Admiring Thought-Provoking Art Pieces @ The National Gallery Of Modern Art

Who said art is only for the artists and the connoisseurs? As Oscar Wilde aptly wrote, ‘It is through Art and through Art only that we can realize our perfection; through Art and Art only that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence.’

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) serves to bridge the gap between the common people and the world of beautiful art created by well-known artists across the country and the world. It is a leading art gallery of India that makes profound art seem more meaningful, enjoyable and easy to connect to for the people.

The History

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Established way back in 1954, the NGMA has a gigantic collection of some 17,000 artworks by the best of Indian and foreign artists. The gallery is situated in a former residential palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur which is now referred to as the Jaipur House and covers a sprawling complex. The initial aim of the gallery was to curate the works of modern art starting from the 1850s. Today, it houses a huge multi-level state-of-the-art gallery that has works by all the best Indian artists on display, be it Raja Ravi Verma, Abanindranath Tagore, Tyeb Mehta, M. F. Hussain or Amrita Sher-Gil, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore and more – we can’t think of any prominent modern artist whose work hasn’t been represented here!

The Collection

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The gallery has on display an eclectic collection of the best artworks, ranging from sculptures to different forms and styles of paintings to abstract art forms. There are also works by the European and far-Eastern artists who visited India during the 18th and 19th centuries and depicted exotic Indian scenes which include the likes of Thomas Daniell, Emily Eden and William Hodges. The chronologically organized displays of works, along with the detailed inscriptions beside every piece, together narrate the story of the evolution of modern art in India in a graphic and stunning manner!

The complex also houses an auditorium where documentaries and short films relating to various aspects of art and artists are showcased. Another recent addition to the NGMA is the Preview Theatre, where exhibitions on special themes are often held for a limited duration. There is also a library and an academic section where a bank of associated literature can be found!

Pick Up Cool Mugs, Cards & More

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The NGMA serves a major purpose of bringing art closer to people’s lives, to help people understand the deeper connotations of famous artworks and to acquaint them with the world of modern Indian artists. An effective step in this direction is the souvenir and museum shop on the premises. Popular artists’ works are available at the shop in the form of greeting cards, picture postcards, souvenir mugs, various sized prints and entire portfolios, all at extremely affordable prices. A visit to the NGMA will be incomplete without taking home a memento from here, right?

The NGMA is situated at one end of Janpath and is at a kilometre’s distance from the Khan Market metro station. A symbol of the cultural ethos of India, the gallery definitely merits a visit!

Where | National Gallery Of Modern Art - Jaipur House, Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, CP, India Gate
Call Them | +91 11 2338 6111
Timings | 10 AM - 6:30 PM (Tuesday - Friday) & 11 AM - 8 PM (Saturday And Sunday)
Entry | Free (Children & Students), Rs 20 (Indians) & Rs 500 (Foreigners)
Check Out Their FB Page | https://www.facebook.com/ngmadelhi/
Here’s Their Website | http://ngmaindia.gov.in/index.asp

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