Art meets memory: Nandita Desai’s ‘The Painted Window’ opens in Mumbai

Mumbai’s art fraternity gathered for an evening of creativity and nostalgia as contemporary artist Nandita Desai unveiled her fifth solo exhibition, The Painted Window, at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery in Nariman Point.

Curated by Praful Satokar, the exhibition was inaugurated by fitness expert Nawaz Modi Singhania and IAS officer Nidhi Choudhari in the presence of artists, collectors, and cultural personalities.

The opening drew several prominent guests including theatre personality Raell Padamsee, philanthropist Aneel Kashi Murarka, art enthusiast Shekhar Sawant, artists Satyendra Rane and Sangeeta Babani, art collector Ajoykant Ruia, and others.

Featuring nearly 50 artworks, the show explores the idea of the window as a metaphor for memory, reflection, and human connection. Desai works on vintage and handcrafted window frames, many sourced from abandoned or demolished homes, transforming them into evocative art objects. Some pieces are also created using repurposed wood, lending the works a sense of history and quiet intimacy.

Speaking at the inauguration, Nawaz Modi Singhania recalled her long association with the artist from their days at St. Xavier’s College, where Desai taught Ancient Indian Culture.

“I remember Nandita from my college days as a young and engaging teacher who made even the most complex subjects come alive. Her classes were enjoyable and accessible. Seeing her work today, I feel the same sense of admiration. These artworks are beautiful and alluring, and truly reflect her remarkable talent,” she said, wishing the artist success for the exhibition.

IAS officer Nidhi Choudhari spoke about the deeper symbolism of windows in everyday life. “Windows are silent witnesses to life’s most personal and shared moments; from dreams and conversations to joy, longing and memory. What makes this exhibition especially moving is that these windows come from ordinary homes rather than grand structures. Because of that simplicity, they feel deeply familiar and relatable. Viewers may see echoes of their own lives in these pieces; a grandmother’s home, a childhood memory, or a quiet corner of their past,” she said.

For Nandita, the idea of windows is rooted in personal memory. Drawing from her childhood experiences of moving homes and finding comfort near windows, the artist treats them as symbols of the balance between one’s inner world and the outside universe. Her works combine materials such as glass colours, natural oxide polishes, stains, varnishes, wax crayons, shellac, oils, acrylics, pastels, jute and hemp, reflecting her affinity for textured surfaces and natural elements. The show is on till March 21.