The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Saket New Delhi recently opened a fascinating exhibition titled ‘Eckart Muthesius and Manik Bagh: Pioneering Modernism in India,’ curated by Raffael Dedo Gadebusch commemorating the 120th birth anniversary of German architect Eckart Muthesius sheds light on an extraordinary cultural exchange between India and Germany in the early 20th century focusing on the creation of Manik Bagh Palace in Indore It highlights the intricate interplay of architecture bringing forth the little-known story of patronage and international cooperation that shaped one of India’s most iconic buildings meaning ‘jewel garden,’ was conceived in the early 1930s when Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore met Eckart Muthesius at Oxford known for his forward-thinking and cosmopolitan outlook wanted a palace that was distinct from the colonial designs prevalent in India at the time He appointed Muthesius to design this modernist masterpiece which would reflect his sophisticated tastes and stand as a symbol of the new democratic principles in architecture and its interiors became an iconic example of early modernist design elegant furniture and contemporary artworks many of which were commissioned specifically for the space Notable pieces included three versions of Constantin Brancusi’s famous sculpture Bird in Space a testament to the Maharaja’s deep engagement with avant-garde art movements in Europe “This exhibition not only tells the fascinating story of an early cooperation between India and Germany in the field of design and architecture through the very fruitful friendship of two sophisticated but also sheds light on the little-known topic of Indian patronage of Western art and architecture during the height of the global economic crisis in 1929.” Muthesius’ vision for Manik Bagh was not merely limited to aesthetics; it embodied the holistic ideals of modernist architecture The exhibition explores how Muthesius’s designs broke away from the colonial architectural traditions in India creating a space that was international in its outlook yet deeply rooted in the Maharaja’s desire to bring contemporary European aesthetics to his home country and carefully curated art collection exemplified a new democratic approach to design where form and function coexisted harmoniously The collaboration between Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II and Eckart Muthesius was more than just a patron-artist relationship; it was a reflection of the Maharaja’s global perspective and desire to position Indore as a hub of modernist design in India His interest in European avant-garde movements combined with Muthesius’s architectural brilliance created a space that was revolutionary in its conception and execution who has meticulously curated this exhibition “Manik Bagh (‘gem garden’) is one of the most fascinating examples of the fruitful cultural exchange between Germany and India in the early twentieth century Commissioned by the young and open-minded Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore it took the Berlin architect and designer Eckart Muthesius just a few years to plan and realize the palace and its elegant garden layout Manik Bagh embodied the holistic ideals of a new democratic approach to architecture at the time.” The exhibition not only presents architectural drawings and design elements but also delves into the relationship between Muthesius and Holkar showcasing how their shared vision led to the creation of a modernist icon It highlights the Maharaja’s boldness in commissioning European artists like Constantin Brancusi and his willingness to push the boundaries of traditional Indian architecture One of the highlights of the exhibition is the rare collection of photographs by renowned artists like Man Ray and Emil Leitner who documented the interiors of Manik Bagh These images provide an intimate look at the grandeur of the palace and the innovative use of light and space that Muthesius employed in his design The exhibition also features original sketches and watercolors by Muthesius giving viewers insight into the creative process behind the palace’s design the exhibition includes pieces of furniture and decorative objects that were part of the original Manik Bagh interiors many of which have been sourced from private collections and museums in Europe offer a tangible connection to the architectural marvel that Muthesius created Another exhibition that simultaneously opened at KNMA Saket is dedicated to the practices of South Asian diaspora artists the exhibition initiates a critical dialogue among the works of three artists: Simryn Gill Featuring substantial bodies of work from each artist the exhibition begins with an exploration of the element ‘Earth’ as a geological Most of the works in the exhibition are the artists’ life-long projects or long-term commitments to specific ideas © SUNDAY GUARDIAN LIVE 2025 | DIRECT NEWS PRIVATE LIMITED | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA Chester County nanny went on a nearly $8,000 shopping spree using a former employer’s credit card police sayJessica Gadebusch spent thousands at Lululemon according to the affidavit of probable cause for her arrest was suddenly shut down by the state amid allegations of drug use by staff and other long-standing problems Finding childcare in the post-pandemic world was difficult enough the West Chester resident was losing her one good option scouring local mom groups for leads on babysitters and after a lengthy phone interview and a review of the woman’s resumé and references realize that decision would cost her family nearly $8,000 in credit card debt and thrust them into the middle of a criminal investigation “The worst part is how this affects your ability to trust and to move on,” Carlin said this week “We trusted her just like we trusted Arbor Learning and to have these two incidents happen so close together has really affected my family’s ability to trust outsiders again.” » READ MORE: Troubled Malvern day-care center closes, revealing problems that plague the system When Carlin gave Jessica Gadebusch her credit card to take her two children to the Elmwood Park Zoo on Aug West Whiteland Township police say the 22-year-old saved Carlin’s credit card information to her Apple Wallet account and later went on a whirlwind spending hundreds of dollars on expensive athletic wear at Lululemon and personal items on Amazon but by then Carlin’s card had been maxed out has been charged with 36 counts of access device fraud returned multiple requests to comment for this story The brazenness of the alleged fraud stunned Carlin attentive and creative with ways to engage her children And even after she switched to a less expensive daycare in her area the two had ended the relationship on good terms She and her husband discovered the fraud about a week after as they were reviewing their financial information during the closing on a new home The couple contacted a small store where some of the purchases had been made they learned that the purchaser had used the Carlins’ billing information but had given Gadebusch’s home address for shipping She confessed to West Whiteland detectives that she made the purchases And she made an apologetic phone call to Carlin and her husband and I want her to be able to continue with her life,” Carlin said “But this whole situation has really made us scared of who people are vs West Whiteland Detective Scott Pezik said the alleged fraud is not uncommon for the department: In well-heeled Chester County he and his colleagues often investigate thefts from homes by housekeepers He tells anyone hiring someone to work in their home to thoroughly vet the candidate using all the tools available including checking criminal dockets and social media “This just shows you how vulnerable we all are,” he said “You hire people to work in your home and you trust them Thieves can come in all shapes and sizes.” Gadebusch has a preliminary hearing in her case scheduled for October and saw Gadebusch’s posting in a Facebook group Gadebusch was in Teuber’s home in Malvern on Tuesday when another mother told her Carlin’s story “I thought I was being punked,” Teuber said “It’s unsettling — we just tried to find someone who’s nice and will treat our family well and the fact there is someone out there taking advantage of families is pretty scary.” The Voice of the Progressive Movement since 1996 I am contacting you about “Another Fresno Opportunity” (January 2024 issue) written by Ruth Gadebusch I have never had the pleasure of meeting Ms Thank you Community Alliance for your publication I want to extend a special thank you to Ms I have high hopes for the downtown and Chinatown revitalization and plans for the future including the high-speed rail station here in Fresno when and how’s a good time to speak to the [Fresno] City Council I am outraged that a tent I donated to some poor unhoused individuals was taken and cruelly thrown away by the City right before their eyes right before this atmospheric river deluge of rain It is a lie that the police are holding items confiscated to be retrieved downtown They throw away people’s IDs and blankets right before their eyes while people are pleading to save their meager essential belongings like shoes and socks and tarps The HART (Homeless Assistance Response Team) is a complete sham I am Jewish and have deep family connections to early Zionism My great grandfather resigned from the Austrian Army in 1896 to become head of security for Hertzl and the Zionist movement My other grandfather was a childhood friend of Chiam Weizmann My parents donated regularly to the JNF (Jewish National Fund) I used to carry a paper can around to my neighbors to collect “Dimes for Israel.” I was bar mitzvahed at Temple Beth Jacob in Fresno in 1959 I grew up in the tradition of progressive humanitarian politics Anti-Zionist does not equal anti-Jewish or anti-Israel and you should be smart enough to know that threatened by Roman soldiers to stand on one leg and tell them about what it is to be Jewish “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Being pro-ceasefire is not anti-Semitic Quotes from Hertz’s original political writings make it clear that the elimination of the Palestinian people was a cornerstone of Jewish re-occupation of the homeland This is called “genocidal politics.” This is irreconcilable with the Golden Rule After 90 years of demeaning and violent treatment by a government what would you do to obtain your own freedom Can you imagine what a 10-year old Palestinian boy would think if he saw an Israeli soldier kill his mother and sisters The government of Israel is the best recruiter that Hamas ever had Israeli Zionists cannot be the more powerful political force and then claim “victim” when their actions gain the predictable result (Shylock’s fate) We have put down the other leg and done evil we should be demanding a ceasefire and a two-party state because it is the human thing to do Be a conscientious Jew (not a Zionist) and do what’s right President Joe Biden is 81 years old.Prison-bound Donald Trump is 77 years old.Supreme Court “Justice” Clarence Thomas is 75 years old and still talking about Coke cans.And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is 82 years old Was it ever seriously the planned intention in America for the vast majority of the mostly powerlessness adult public to be ruled and abused by our elders like lost and forgotten children hiding from the oncoming next horrific Holocaust in a neighborhood friend’s filthy with not even one unwilted flower among any of us I would never want to draw any unwanted attention to certain societal institutions of particular note here that may have had a role in the creation of our relatively new American gerontocracy Israeli Huckster Benny Hinn is 71 years old.Texas Taliban’s John Hagee is 83 years old.The Catholic Pope Francis is 87 years old.And the United Kingdom’s King Charles is 75 years old.Homer’s dad Why do Fresno City Council members want to control the county Democratic committee Three City Council members have dumped almost $15,000 into a PAC to elect Democratic county committee slates presumably to act as toadies for their interests One of these slates even includes Council Member [Nelson] Esparza and his partner (who just happens to work for [Rep.] Jim Costa) And a third person on the same slate works for [Assembly Member] Esmeralda Soria several candidates who actually do the hard work of running the party are getting pushed aside Why put that kind of money into getting Council influence on the county committee instead of giving the money directly to the party itself where it could be used to help elect Democrats across the board Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( 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Learn how your comment data is processed. © 2025 Community Alliance | Privacy Policy - Accessibility Statement Staatliche Museen zu Berlin three of India’s most important museums for modern and contemporary art will present the special exhibition Eckart Muthesius and Manik Bagh – Pioneering Modernism in India curated by the head of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst To mark the 120th birthday of architect Eckart Muthesius the exhibition tells the fascinating story of a fruitful dialogue between India and Germany in the field of design and architecture in the early 1930s head of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin it shows a selection of rare vintage photographs by Eckart Muthesius These are complemented by little-known watercolours First, it will be on display at the Kiran Nadar Museum (KNMA) in New Delhi from 14 October to 8 December 2024, then at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bangalore and finally at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad City Museum in Mumbai. The exhibition will be on view at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin from the end of 2025 The protagonists of this dialogue were Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore (1908-1961) and the Berlin architect Eckart Muthesius (1904-1989) Muthesius was commissioned by the Maharaja to design a palace for him and his wife This was to be clearly different from existing designs in the English colonial style The palace commissioned by Yeshwant Rao Holkar and realised by Muthesius in 1933 was India’s first iconic modernist building: Manik Bagh (literally the ‘jewel garden’) The palace embodied the holistic ideals of the new democratic architecture The puristically elegant yet highly innovative interior designed by Eckart Muthesius the numerous masterpieces of contemporary design and important works of art – such as the sculpture Bird in Space commissioned by the Maharaja from Constantin Brancusi in three versions - made Manik Bagh an architectural synthesis of the arts and a symbol of the dawn of international modernism like almost no other building in Asia The contemporary press wrote euphorically of a ‘fairytale palace of modernity’ The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue in English with essays by Raffael Dedo Gadebusch and Prahlad Bubbar A cooperation between the Federal Foreign Office/the German Embassy in Delhi and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin this is a ‘gem’ of a place that was commissioned by Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II View of Manik Bagh Palace retouched by the architect for the illusion of a flat roof Paying homage to the palace is a new show at the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) Bengaluru along with the Museum of Asian Art Berlin in partnership with the German Consulate General with drawings and watercolours by Muthesius as well as a few tactile models of the furniture and light fixtures to allow visitors to touch and feel them The Maharaja’s Office with design pieces by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann the images have been sourced from collectors like Prahlad Bubbar and Taimur Hassan and is part of a series by MAP that examines the idea of 'home' under varied lenses All the images are from the 1930s and showcases how the friendship between Eckart Muthesius and Yashwant Rao Holkar II resulted in a space that is an ode to the Bauhaus style of architecture “This building is hyper important for the history of modernism and was the first of its kind in South Asia,” says Gadebusch The vintage images are displayed against a striking pink and green backdrop The inclusive exhibition highlights several stunning photographs that show the majestic interiors of the palace While the images are largely all in black and white they are set against a beautiful pink and green background much like the colour palette of the palace One of the very few images in colour is in the same shade as it shows the king on his throne surrounded by the ministers and other people All the images represent the early dialogue between India and Germany in the field of design and architecture View of one of the verandas with design pieces by Louis Sognot The images reflect the built architecture on how it was way ahead of its time One of the images shows the terrace area and how the circulatory verandas facing the inner courtyard was an acknowledgement of India’s climate “It is important to note that Manik Bagh is not an art deco building it is really a modernist building in the international style and has some pieces of art deco furniture There are references to Indian temple architecture that are seen in the interiors as well,” says Gadebusch View of Manik Bagh Palace with Chairs by Louis Sognot and Table by Marcel Breuer Another striking image is that of the courtyard that has geometric and symmetrical Mughal gardens and water features There is a huge banyan tree that symbolises Vedic traditions and Muthesius wanted this contrast to co-exist no trees were cut on the site when the palace was built There is also a set of two images – one showing a minimalistic flat roof how Muthesius envisioned the design and another with a pitched roof which was how the building turned out eventually as the rains meant a flat open roof would not be practical Interior view of the River Barge for the Maharaja of Indore View of the River Boat planned for the Maharaja of Indore The images show an abundance of new age materials and German silver (made of copper and nickel) is seen prominently in most images with essays by Prahlad Bubbar and Gadebusch is also worth flipping through as it details Manik Bagh’s significance in the global modernist context The last image shows a moving train – a photograph of a charcoal drawing by Muthesius symbolising a sense of how his work remains so relevant even in the modern day context Also read: 5 incredible architectural restorations you may have missed in 2024 Also read: A private exhibition of rare and archival photos maps the Swedish Embassy’s beginnings in India Also read: Byculla’s Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum reopens after a two-year-long restoration project The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast German manufacturer Fertigungstechnik NORD GmbH More than 100 industry and political representatives attended a ceremony and tour of the factory in Gadebusch in June Head of the Northwestern Mecklenburg District Authority State Secretary and Head of the State Chancellery Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Jutta Humbert and Ullrich Küchenmeister Plant Manager Steffen Timm (left) and NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Managing Director Jutta Humbert (4th from the left) greeted their guests of honor (from the left) Ulrich Howest NORDMETALL Federation of Metal and Electrical Industry and worms are manufactured for all NORD gear unit series including industrial gear units with torques up to more than 250,000 Nm The components are assembled at the group’s global headquarters in Bargteheide or in one of the assembly factories around the world from where they are supplied to international customers The Gadebusch factory has already been extended several times since its foundation It currently comprises five halls with a combined production floor of 13,700 m² It employs state of the art manufacturing technology The plant is connected with the production sites of the NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group in a global IT network NORD in Gadebusch is making smart manufacturing a reality the lathes will be loaded fully automatically Plant Manager Steffen Timm anticipates a continuation of the company’s role as a major employer in the region especially for ever better qualified personnel in a smart manufacturing context which has been conducting vocational training since 1995 On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Fertigungstechnik NORD spoke about the importance of the Gadebusch production site as part of the international group It was long ago that downtown Fresno enjoyed its heyday but it isn’t because the Fulton Mall precludes cars parked at storefronts there are no stores to attract the shopping hoards people drive with few ways to get there otherwise but entries are limited in one and stores are spaced far and wide in the other I remember the excitement and hope with Fulton Mall’s opening There was the art carefully selected by committed “do gooders” who raised the purchasing money It was something to brag about to friends elsewhere who even then thought of Fresno as “Podunk Hollow.” How wrong they were—and are—a story for another time Every visitor was taken there and how handy was that hop off and on trolley for those unable to walk the six blocks Roos and Hodges for men’s clothing and Gottschalks These locals had great pride in our city but eventually succumbed to the handwriting on the wall—development “up north,” dividing our city economically How could anyone be surprised when there was not enough business to support so many shopping opportunities Agnes built on donated land on Herndon’s near wilderness at the time lawyers went to their offices daily and only on limited occasion to the courthouse built to replace the one that was so resistant to demolition How ironic that the answer to downtown’s woes is getting parked cars back on the Fulton Mall area when one group of forward-thinking citizens has worked long and hard to get public transportation included in the Measure C road tax Vision has prevailed from time to time with voters supporting taxes for the zoo and library indicating deep commitment to the community Can’t some of that same sort of vision be implemented for Fulton Mall Aren’t there solutions other than promoting the polluting Thriving ones may not have originated from downtown streets but all over the country there are malls where one parks outside pedestrian areas just as we did in the parking lots of downtown Fresno Some forward-thinking developers are currently building housing near downtown The Cultural Arts District may be too late for the Metro Museum but it certainly has promise and could only enhance the Fulton Mall As these bring more people downtown and the value of public transportation is recognized businesses will find it profitable to operate on the Fulton Mall Let us not bury this jewel when polishing can make it shine again a former member of the Fresno Unified School Board and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Civic Education