Netherfield Ball – Colors of Life-15 Bash, India Habitat Center
The party secrets.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
Are rules beginning to relax? Delhi’s art world is opening to the idea of samosas with unlimited beer.
One breezy evening The Delhi Walla attended the inaugural bash of Colors of Life-15, an art show held by Bhiku Ram Jain Foundation, at the Visual Arts Gallery in India Habitat Center. All of us in the gallery moved around carrying our respective samosas and beer bellies. One man carried his noisy baby.
It was difficult to spot any famous face, though of course there was Ratan Kaul, the omnipresent society diva who is seen in every noteworthy party that takes place in this town (I have written about her here). The most curious moment of the evening unrolled when an unnamed lady marched into the gallery and heading straight to Ms Kaul, loudly proclaimed, “I have The Complete Works of Shakespeare in my home.”
Ms Kaul responded by beaming in her usual non-committal way.
Another unnamed woman was overheard telling Ms Kaul, “My friend has flown to Venice. She too will try to hush up Lalit Modi.”
The woman was referring to a London-based businessman who is currently linked to a corruption scandal involving senior politicians of the ruling party.
While quite a few men sniffed at the canvasses in the all-knowing manners of The Caravan magazine critics, their passion for art did not percolate down to their evening wear. Not one dress stirred the imagination.
The women were slightly better. (One lady’s blouse was printed with roses.)
A young woman stood alone in high heels. Attired in black and gold, she said she was trying to be a model. She was the only one without a samosa.
Party with a difference
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5. (Ratan Kaul with artist Sunayana Malhotra)
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The whole scenario is pretty mediocre. Most of the pieces up there don’t look so good.