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When the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF) celebrated 10 years of existence on April 11, 2021, they sent commemorative note cards showcasing a selection of the masterpieces in their collection. The JNAF is housed in the modern and contemporary art wing of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (CSMVS, formerly Prince of Wales Museum). In her covering letter JNAF director Puja Vaish has acknowledged this fruitful partnership while thanking all collaborators, supporters, well-wishers and visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Foundation was set up to "take care of one of the richest private collections of modern Indian art. The collection was put together over five decades by (businessman) Jehangir K. S. Nicholson, who bought his first painting in 1968. He continued building on this collection until his death in 2001,” notes Vaish. Close to 800 artworks "that reflect the significant trajectories of post-independence Indian art as well as the cultural milieu of the city” were acquired by Nicholson whose ardent wish it was to make his collection accessible to the public. "He spent his final years negotiating with the authorities for a space in the city dedicated to modern art where his collection could be displayed,” mentions Vaish in her letter.
However, it was only after the art collector passed away that the trustees of the JNAF entered into collaboration with the CSMVS in 2008 and the gallery was declared open to the public on April 11, 2011. Twenty-two exhibitions and several talks, seminars and workshops have been conducted the JNAF during the past decade, including collaborations with national and international institutions, artists, historians and cultural experts. And though the JNAF remains closed to the public at present due to the pandemic, a number of online programs have been planned for which notifications will be placed on their website (www.jnaf.org) and through social media.                                                   

S. V.