Mumbai and New York, two cosmopolitan financial centres of the world, have another thing in common – both enthusiastically embraced the Art Deco style in the 20th century. This illustrated talk, held as part of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2021, focuses on developing an appreciation for this architectural style in both cities. The presentations detail the socio-cultural perspective from the early 20th century, which played a significant role in shaping the skyline of New York as well as reimagining urban spaces of Mumbai, creating numerous Deco delights.
Speakers:
Anthony W. Robins has led countless walking tours through New York City and has lectured for museums, universities and private groups around the world. He holds a Master’s Degree in Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and was the winner of the 1997 Rome Prize. During a 20-year-long career at the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, he served as Deputy Director of Research and Director of Survey. He is currently on the Board of the New York Preservation Archive Project, as well as the Art Deco Society of New York (ADSNY) as Vice President. A founding member of ADSNY, he created the Society’s original tour program in 1981.
Nityaa Lakshmi Iyer is a Conservation Architect with over seven years of experience in heritage conservation and management, in India, USA, Turkey, Peru and Tunisia. She has a keen interest in conserving 20th-century heritage, preserving historic earthen buildings and enabling sensitive interventions through adaptive reuse. She has a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Material Science and Preservation Design. At Art Deco Mumbai Trust, she was Head of Documentation, Research and Outreach initiatives. She has also been part of the MOSAIKON initiative at the Getty Conservation Institute.
