Artist Swati Goel to Present ‘emotions of (BOM)bay’ at Nehru Centre, Mumbai

Mumbai-based artist Swati Goel will present emotions of (BOM)bay, her seventh solo art exhibition, from 13 to 19 October 2026 at the AC Gallery, Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai. Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, the exhibition examines the city not only as a physical environment but as an emotional experience shaped by movement, memory, relationships and aspirations.

A Personal Reading of the City

Through this new body of work, Swati Goel turns her focus toward the emotional character of Bombay/Mumbai. Rather than depicting landmarks or monuments, the exhibition looks at the city through everyday experiences and human interactions. The artist presents Bombay as a place defined by resilience, longing, tenderness, ambition and constant change.

According to the exhibition statement, the city’s identity emerges through the lives of its residents—from crowded trains and bustling streets to quiet moments by the sea. The works seek to capture how these experiences become part of a shared emotional landscape.

The Many Rhythms of Mumbai

A recurring theme in the exhibition is movement. Mumbai’s local train network, often described as the city’s lifeline, appears as a metaphor for collective experience. Within these spaces, ambition, fatigue, hope and perseverance intersect.

The artworks also reflect fleeting encounters between strangers and the sense of connection that develops within a densely populated city. Alongside this energy, the exhibition presents moments of pause and reflection, particularly through imagery inspired by Mumbai’s coastline.

Exploring Contrasts and Contradictions

The exhibition addresses the contrasts that have long shaped Mumbai’s identity. Towering commercial districts exist alongside densely populated neighbourhoods, while prosperity and hardship remain visible in close proximity.

Rather than attempting to resolve these oppositions, Goel embraces them as essential elements of the city’s character. The works examine how struggle and opportunity, loneliness and belonging, often coexist within urban life.

Monsoon as Emotional Memory

Another important aspect of emotions of (BOM)bay is the city’s annual monsoon. The exhibition explores how rain alters Mumbai’s colours, pace and atmosphere.

The monsoon is presented not only as a weather phenomenon but also as an emotional experience. Through changing skies, reflections and rain-soaked streets, the works consider how disruption and beauty often arrive together. These transformations become symbols of adaptation and resilience within the city.

Moments of Romance and Everyday Life

Goel’s interpretation of Bombay also includes intimate and personal moments. Late-night conversations, cutting chai, illuminated streets and monsoon evenings appear as recurring motifs throughout the exhibition.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

• Interpretations of Mumbai’s local train journeys
• Paintings inspired by the city’s coastline and sea
• Works reflecting the monsoon season
• Visual explorations of urban relationships and romance
• Studies of Mumbai’s social and economic contrasts

These elements contribute to a broader narrative about how personal emotions become intertwined with the identity of a place.

Venue and Cultural Context

The exhibition will be hosted at the AC Gallery of the Nehru Centre in Worli, one of Mumbai’s established cultural venues. The Nehru Centre Art Gallery has served as a platform for emerging and established artists since its inauguration in 1992 and regularly hosts exhibitions across painting, sculpture, photography and other visual arts disciplines.

Located within the Discovery of India Building, the gallery is known for supporting contemporary artistic practices while providing exhibition opportunities for artists from across India.

Takeaway

With emotions of (BOM)bay, Swati Goel offers a reflection on Mumbai as a lived and felt experience rather than a geographical location. Through themes of movement, resilience, romance and contradiction, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the emotional layers that shape urban life. By focusing on shared experiences and everyday encounters, the exhibition contributes to ongoing conversations about identity, memory and belonging within one of India’s most dynamic cities.