The New Art Stop
Head to The Z's Precinct if your artistic side is looking for a new space to fuel its imagination
Head to The Z's Precinct if your artistic side is looking for a new space to fuel its imagination.
IS IT AN ART GALLERY, A SHOP or a museum, you wonder when you first lay your eyes on the graceful white building of the newly opened The Z’s Precinct. But it's all this and more, for this recently restored Kolkata-style bungalow in a tree lined corner of Dover Lane looks timeless in its beauty, reflecting the bygone years. Owner Rajesh Sen’s vision was to “restore the house to its original look without masking its age or character, whilst making it attractive in today's scenario.” This vision finds expression in many nooks and corners of The Z Precinct—in the old furniture that has been restored and used to display the wares and bright red oxide and terrazzo floors. The verandah is wrapped in glass so that it looks like an open air space, letting the light into the gallery but keeping the heat out. The ground floor in Z’s precinct is called Zoyah’s treasury, named after one of his daughters. Treasury is an apt word because it’s more of a museum than a shop, for each piece displayed here is unique and as Sen calls it, is “wearable art”. Take for example hand-painted saris by Bodhi, a designer brand from Baroda. Or cushion covers by Sam Well, an American artist based in USA and Bangkok —that feature modern artwork embroidered all over. A must-see here are Sen’s own collection of ties, pocket squares and cufflinks that he has fashioned out of ethnic weaves like ikkat and khadi. The first floor is exhibiting Celebration Dhiraj
81, featuring works by renowned artist Dhiraj Choudhury, who is known to have exhibited in the same space as celebrated Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali and Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramicist Joan Miro. At The Z’s Precinct, 86/7A Dover Lane Tel 24619353
A bandhani stole should be worn without ironing out its shape. Sen sources them directly from bandhani artisans in Rajasthan for their “interesting patterns”. With 3D clothing and textured surfaces making waves in the fashion circuit, here’s a little bit of modernity and tradition rolled into one.