Gallery Profile

Mahender Jain, fondly known as Miki in the art world, took to the passion of his father and tried to create a global platform for the Indian Contemporary art by carrying exhibitions in different parts of the world in the sixties besides India.

Working with eminent artists like Shanti Dave, M F Husain, Tyeb Mehta B Prabha to name a few and who was also joined by his wife Sushma.

He discovered many artists from all parts of India and exhibited their works. The large number of rather important expositions that Mahender put up may well be deemed landmarks on the Delhi art scene.

Their's were the days when art or artists hardly had a 'film star' status. The works of the same, once less known artists are now almost household words.

Mahender also encouraged galleries like Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, 1974, Chitrakoot Gallery, Calcutta, 1987 House of B. Prabha & B. Vithal, New Delhi, 1987 on their onset. Mahender Jain passed away untimely in 1987, and Sushma continued running the show with the same vision, devotion and passion.

Timeline

Our History

1936

The Beginning

Ram Babu, a Sunday painter himself known as Kagazis, ran a stationary business, very popular with the government and diplomatic circles founded Dhoomimal Dharam Das Gallery in Connaught Place. It was his passion for art and artists, which shaped the gallery into an institution, which stood by the young artists for exposing their art. He was a man of rare independence of mind.

1960

Early Years

Mr Mahender Jain with Mr Rajiv Gandhi & Mrs Indira Gandhi.

1962

Early Years

Mahender Jain at the JFK Airport with the Mural executed by Shanti Dave.

1964

Early Years

Mr Mahender Jain with Dr Zakir Hussain, the then President of India at the New York Gallery holding M F Husain exhibition.

1967

Early Years

An exhibition mounted by Mahender & Sushma at Hilton Hotel, USA.

1971

Early Years

Mahender Jain with Dr Karan Singh.

1972

Early Years

The gallery space.

1972

Early Years

Mrs Sonia Gandhi, M Sivanesan & Mrs Indira Gandhi at the gallery.

1985

Early Years

Mahender at restoration.

1985

Early Years

Mr Mahender with Mr M F Husain at the solo exhibition of Mr Pirajee Sagara.

1986

Early Years

Mr G R Santosh, Mr Mahender Jain (behind) Mr Surya Prakash & Mr P N Mago (front) at Dhoomimal.

1987

Early Years

Mahender Jain with Mr Farooq Abdullah at Dhoomimal Art Centre.

1990

Early Years

Mr Masunori Fukuoka, Anshu, Mrs Sushma Jain & Mohit.

1997

Early Years

Mr B C Sanyal at the 10th Anniversary Show for rembering Mahender Jain in conversation with Mohit Jain.

2004

Early Years

Mrs Maneka Gandhi with Jiten Hazarika at the Centre.

2010

Early Years

India Art Fair display at Dhoomimal Art Centre Booth.

2011

Early Years

A Tribute to M F Husain. A walk from the Centre to Sahmat office at Rafi Marg.

2011

Early Years

"Memoirs of an Era" Homage to Sushma Jain.

2017

Early Years

Remembring Sailoz Mookherjee on the 20th Anniversary of Mr Mahender Jain. In frame students of Sailoz Mr Nand Katyal, Mr Suraj Ghai, Mr Om Prakash, Mr Paramjeet Singh, Mrs Arpita Singh & Mr Rajesh Mehra.

2019

Early Years

Shashi Tharoor inaugurating the solo exhibition by Pradiptaa Chakraborty.

Director

The Present

Mohit Jain, son of Mahender & Sushma, and the third generation, joined in 1991. He took over in 1996, with Sushma standing with him. He gave the Gallery a modern look and with the second renovation in 2007 added two floors, the DAC now runs over a much larger space than what it began on trying to fulfill his fathers dream. He has curated many shows among which were theme shows like The Millenium Mask, Half a Foot Square, Kites A celebration of Freedom, Portrait of an Artist etc which are remembered much after the date they happened. He continues running the Gallery with equal dedication & passion as his elders.

The Dhoomimal name is now touching eighty-five years of promoting contemporary Indian art, in this capacity a flagship enterprise within the fraternity, having witnessed the evolution and growth of art and art institutions from their very inception within the country.


Contact Us

  • A8, Connanught Place, New Delhi - 110001, India
  • +(91) 11 23324492
  • info@dhoomimalartcentre.com
  • Daily: 11.00 AM -7.00 PM Sunday & Holidays: Closed

Dhoomimal Art Centre - All rights reserved.