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I’m almost sure that if you so much as breathe the air of this unique architecture-meets-art masterpiece of an art gallery, you’ll get your creative juices flowing like Niagara Falls on steroids. How could you not, when surrounded by some of the most brilliant works of creative Indian powerhouses like BV Doshi and MF Husain? This dome-shaped, partially-underground structure is replete with incredible surprises to satisfy all your art cravings.
MF Husain had always played around with the idea of a unique climatically appropriate building that will house his artwork when, during one of his visits to Ahmedabad, he voiced this thought to his good friend Doshi. The renowned architect jested that he would build a structure so brilliant that Husain would be hard pressed to make art that will match up to his creation. Thus, their brainchild Amdavad ni Gufa slowly took shape with construction finally ending in 1995.
Located in Ahmedabad, the unconventional art gallery sits adjacent to CEPT University, of which Doshi is a Founder-Director. When seen from afar, you won’t be blamed for mistaking it for an art sculpture of its own with great white domes protruding from the ground in seemingly random patterns. You’d almost expect to see a hobbit emerging from one of them, widely grinning in all its hobbit-like glory. On closer inspection though, you’ll see how most of the structure is an underground ‘cave’ of sorts supported by peculiar uneven shaped pillars at irregular intervals. A hidden staircase takes you down through a small hole-shaped opening.
Even though it’s quite contemporary to look at, the structure actually draws inspiration from ancient mythological sources. The domes are covered with white tile mosaics with the exception of a black tile mosaic snake from Hindu mythology slithering across the surface. The cave-like appearance of the interior bears a strong resemblance to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Even the paintings displayed are akin to palaeolithic cave art. The inner walls are unlike any ordinary wall, with a tastefully uneven surface that gives an almost fluid feel to them. Husain was determined not to be outdone by his friend and the architectural wonder he managed to build. So to do justice to his artistic prowess, Husain broke all creative barriers and turned the interior surface of the structure into his canvas, creating a masterpiece befitting his exalted reputation.
‘‘That’s when he did the free-flowing lines inside the Gufa. With Rajesh Sagara, Husain painted the walls, ceilings, even the air-conditioners. Then I decided to relate it with the primordial tortoise and the cobra, so Husain took up his brush once again and painted a headless black cobra on the tortoise-like structures of the Gufa. Then we had specially baked black saucers that were later broken to complete the china mosaic on the structure,’’ Doshi told Hidden Architecture. There is also an intentional play on light with the help of cleverly places holes in the domed ceilings. As the day progresses, the light inside the structure changes, giving it a very mystical vibe. The unorthodox architectural wonder was created using rigorous technological guidelines that rendered the individual components more or less capable of supporting themselves to come together in harmony.
Along with the main structure, there also exist separate galleries for art exhibitions and film projections, a cafe, and gardens. The art gallery is one of the most frequented in the city, with renowned Indian and International hosting regular exhibitions and interactive sessions.
Feature image photographed by Saanya Arora via Instagram.
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