PEAKLIFE

By Neha Mehrotra

An artist’s vision can take any shape or form, but being able to create such work requires space. Tending to this need is Method, an art gallery fostering experimentation and alt-culture in Mumbai. Method is known for disrupting norms and championing emerging artists since 2019, has hosted over 70 exhibitions at 3 outlets, and continues to break barriers by welcoming all forms of art and emphasising art’s daily essence rather than exclusivity.

We sat down with Sahil Arora,the owner of Method, to learn more about the concept behind the gallery, his intentions to exhibit the works of artists whose creations are rarely experienced in person, and Method’s participation in the India Art Fair.

1. Tell us about the inception of Method. What was your objective for this art space?

Sahil Arora: Before establishing Method, I had never explored art galleries or spaces in India. My inclination to visit such places only surfaced when I travelled abroad. The lack of intriguing elements, experimental approaches, and the fusion of aesthetics with technology in the Indian art scene failed to capture my interest. I yearned for a more future-forward approach. While things have evolved in the Indian art industry since then, my motivation for opening Method stemmed from a desire to create a space that resonated with my preferred way of experiencing the art world.

2. Method is set to present a booth at the India Art Fair for the first time in 2024. Can you share some insights into the ambitious curation for the fair?

Sahil Arora: We are quite excited to bring three big international artists to the fair: J. Demsky, Kumkum Fernando, and Jan Kaláb. Demsky exhibited with us last year for Mumbai Gallery Weekend, but other than that, none of these three have shown their art in India. In addition to them, we are showcasing some of the artists we represent in India: Kunel Gaur, Ashna Malik, and Rohan Joglekar. I’m quite confident our booth will stand out.

3. Can you share with us the thought process behind the ongoing solo shows (Nirvair Singh Rai’s and Priyesh Trivedi’s show) and exhibitions, and what impact are you hoping they have on viewers?

Sahil Arora: Both of these shows are incredibly different. Priyesh’s show was much anticipated by us. In fact, when we first opened Method, he was one of the artists we knew we had to show because he thinks differently than most people. Who else would have put Super Mario with the Tibetan Book of the Dead? All 90s kids played Super Mario, but how many of us thought about his afterlife when he fell off the screen? It’s the art that makes you think.

Nirvair’s work brings into focus what we witness every day. He takes the mundane and reminds us that it’s art. While Priyesh explores life after death, Nirvair’s work reminds us we are still alive.

4. Amid the pandemic, what were some strategies that helped you maintain a vibrant artistic community?

Sahil Arora: Sometimes my wife jokes that we are the only people on earth who met dozens of people during the pandemic. That all happened because we opened Method Bandra in October 2020, and it became a community outpost where everyone got to know one another. Because we serve coffee, people could still come and look at art while waiting for their orders or sit outside. Many artistic collaborations started because of people meeting at Method Bandra. Honestly, I’m really grateful for the community we experienced during the pandemic.

5. Method has been a catalyst for emerging artists. How does the gallery support these artists, and how do they contribute to shaping the identity of Method?

Sahil Arora: We are all emerging and transforming. I think the important thing is to listen to one another. For the artists we work with on an ongoing basis, we start by asking them what they want out of their careers. Then, we see how we can support them on that journey. Artists shape the identity of Method by bringing their ideas. After all, without them, we would be nothing. We like to be the place where artists can come to us with their wildest ideas, and when they let us be a part of those ideas, then it changes us too.

6. With galleries in Kala Ghoda, Bandra, and Juhu, what vision or experiences do you hope to take to new locations?

Sahil Arora: We hope to open Method in Delhi very soon.

7. If you had to introduce the world to one artist, who would it be?

Sahil Arora: An Indian artist: Kunel Gaur. He’s made a name for himself in the world of design, but his transition to contemporary art is very exciting. His use of non-traditional materials and themes makes his art quite distinct. He was handpicked to show at ‘The Other Art Fair’ presented by Saatchi Art in Brooklyn, and his work was well-received by an international audience.