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.
