Participated in the institutions’ section on behalf of Korea, the K-Art exhibition booth featured three representative works by media artists such as Lee Lee Nam, Chochungdo, and Kim Hong Do…reports Asian Lite News
India Art Fair, the Indian subsidiary of Angus Montgomery Arts, an art exhibition consulting firm based in London, is one of the largest fairs hosted by the company around the world.
Artists, galleries, and institutions from major developed nations like the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia, among others, will be present at the 2024 Expo, which opened on February 1.
Participated in the institutions’ section on behalf of Korea, the K-Art exhibition booth featured three representative works by media artists such as Lee Lee Nam, Chochungdo, and Kim Hong Do.
Lee Lee-nam is a world-renowned media artist who presents works combining digital technology with famous paintings from the East and the West. The work, Cartoon-Folding Screen 1 is a digital folding screen work created in collaboration with the works of Korea’s leading cartoonists, Lee Doo Ho’s Mudori, Shin Mun Su’s Robot Jiibba, Park Soo Dong’s DolmenGobau, and Yoon Seung Woon’s Stubborn Frog School were held at an exhibition hosted by the Korea Cartoon Museum and other Asian classical paintings. The artwork digitally transcends the boundaries of monitor frames, eras, and countries, satirizing the power dynamics in contemporary art through the metaphor of cannonballs flying through art history and modern issues. It aims to critique the cartoon-like nature of the real world by encapsulating stories from ancient times to the present within the beauty of the four seasons.
The work ‘Chochungdo’ is based on the two works of ‘Chochungdo’ by Shin Saimdang, a female artist who excelled in poetry and calligraphy during the mid-Joseon Dynasty. The author tried to show a new painting method by adding modern digital techniques while preserving the painting quality of the original as much as possible. To fully express the existence of still grass and insects, the artist tried to express Shin Saimdang’s delicate expressiveness with a modern sensibility by adding vitality to the paper.
Kim Hong Do’s Painting of Bamboo is a digital reinterpretation of the ink and bamboo painting by Kim HongDo, a representative painter of the late Joseon Dynasty. It breathes new life into a work that has lost its light trapped in the canvas by expressing the invisible wind flow and snow scenery digitally.
Artist Lee Nam Lee expressed his feelings about participating in this India Art Fair, saying, “Thank you for inviting me to this great India Art Fair. I am grateful for allowing me to showcase the media artworks that reinterpret world art history, religion, philosophy, and aesthetics whose content combines Indian art culture with traditional Korean paintings.”
Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Center India said, “Despite the great interest in Korean culture in India, there is a lack of understanding of Korean artists and Korean art in its art field. We are trying to form a discourse about Korean art through continuous promotion, participation, and exhibitions. The organizers of the Art Fair specifically proposed the participation of Korean art, especially in the media art to us. Through this art fair and K Art’s successful debut stage, we will continue to create an opportunity to promote and introduce the status of K-Art.”
The 15th edition of the India Art Fair, featuring 100 exhibitors including 71 galleries, 7 design studios, 26 new exhibitors, and 18 international galleries, is set to take place at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi from February 1 to 4, 2024. With an expanded lineup and thrilling exhibits, here is an essential guide to all the exciting activities planned for the India Art Fair 2024.
Decades Ahead in Design: The ANATOM collection by Rado, celebrating its 40th-anniversary edition, stands as a testament to the brand’s forward-thinking approach. With its timeless and unique design, the collection remains easily recognizable as Rado’s signature, showcasing the brand’s ability to stay ahead of the competition in design innovation.
Innovative Facade: Artist duo Thukral & Tagra’s creation for the India Art Fair will be transformed into chic collectible bags by Dalit-run Chamar Studio after the event.
‘Future is Born of Art’ Commission: Sponsored by BMW India, this year’s commission winner, Sashikanth Thavudoz, will craft a sensory installation exploring the theme of Forwardism, blending natural and industrial materials for a thought-provoking experience.
Record-Breaking Participation: With over 100 galleries participating, including esteemed names like Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Galleria Continua, the 2024 fair marks its largest gathering yet, showcasing modern and contemporary art from South Asia to the world.
Spotlight on Emerging Artists: The fair continues to nurture young talent through its Artists in Residence programs, featuring rising stars like Thamshangpha Maku, Mayuri Chari, and Siddharth Gohil, alongside established names such as Jatinder Singh Durhailay and Guler Ates, offering a diverse array of artistic expressions.
Diverse Artistic Offerings: From tapestry weaving by Akshata Mokashi to humorous sculpture by Jonathan Trayte, and vibrant photographs capturing everyday scenes by Bhargava Barla, the fair presents a rich tapestry of artistic endeavors, highlighting the depth and breadth of contemporary art in the region.
India Art Fair 2023 will be its most ambitious edition to date.(photo:IANSLIFE)
India Art Fair 2023 is set to include some of India’s most important contemporary art galleries presenting established names and promising young talents…reports Asian Lite News
The India Art Fair, the premier venue displaying modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, is held at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi from February 9-12, 2023. The event, which is organised in collaboration with BMW India and places the voices of artists at its core, will feature 85 exhibitors, including 71 galleries and 14 organisations. India’s economy is predicted to develop to be the fifth largest in the world, and with India Art Fair at the head, the country’s art market has expanded concurrently.
The 2023 fair will be the most ambitious to date, building on the success of the previous edition. It will feature expanded floorspace to showcase South Asia’s top talent, including cutting-edge contemporary art and modern masters, as well as an expanded studio showcasing the fair’s digital artist in residence programme. The show will serve as a gathering place for curators, collectors, and other art industry professionals, fostering cross-cultural relationships and connections with the global art scene.
Jaya Asokan, Fair Director of India Art Fair comments: “The scale and diversity of the fair in 2023 reflects the expansion of the contemporary and modern art market across India and South Asia, as well as burgeoning interest from the international community. We’re particularly proud of all of our artists who are testing the boundaries of contemporary and traditional arts or digital innovation, with many coming from previously unexplored regions of India. We’re proud of the quality of work they’re producing and powerfully responding to our changing times.”
Day 2 of India Art Fair. (Photo:IANS Life)
GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS
India Art Fair 2023 is set to include some of India’s most important contemporary art galleries presenting established names and promising young talents.
Top Indian contemporary galleries exhibiting include Vadehra Art Gallery, Gallery Espace, PHOTOINK, GALLERYSKE, Nature Morte, Blueprint12 (all New Delhi), Chatterjee & Lal, Jhaveri Contemporary, Chemould Prescott Road, GALLERY MASKARA, Galerie Isa, Project 88 (all Mumbai), EMAMI ART, Gallery Art Exposure (both Kolkata), Experimenter (Kolkata / Mumbai), Vida Heydari Contemporary (Pune), Apparao Galleries, Gallery Veda (both from Chennai), Gallery WHITE (Vadodara), Archer Art Gallery, ZOCA (both from Ahmedabad), Anant Art (NOIDA / New Delhi) and Kalakriti Art Gallery (Hyderabad), each of them from across India and beyond the traditional centres of New Delhi and Mumbai. Alongside these are modern master galleries, DAG (New Delhi / Mumbai / New York), Crayon Art Gallery and Dhoomimal Gallery (both New Delhi), showing iconic masterpieces.
New gallery participants presenting emerging and mid-career artists include: 079 STORIES ART GALLERY (Ahmedabad), Treasure Art Gallery (New Delhi), Gallery Dotwalk (Gurugram), Dhi Artspace (Hyderabad), Chemould CoLab (Mumbai), Iram Art (Ahmedabad).
Showcasing solo presentations curated by participating galleries, this year the Focus section will put a strong emphasis on painters from distinguished names such as Jayashree Chakravarty (Akar Prakar, Kolkata / New Delhi), Avijit Dutta (Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad) and Waswo X. Waswo (Gallery Espace, New Delhi), rising mid-career artists, Anni Kumari (Treasure Art Gallery, New Delhi) to emerging artists Viraj Khanna (Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai) and Digbijayee Khatua (Anant Art, NOIDA / New Delhi).
The Platform section will showcase the rich artistic traditions of India through the works of contemporary masters of traditional arts, from Warli (Vayeda brothers), Gond (Dhavat Singh), Madhubani (A.K. Jha and Padma Shri Baua Devi), Pattachitra (Prakash Chandra), Kalamkari art (S. Srinivas Rao), Bhil traditions (Padma Shri awardee Bhuri Bai) and Chamba Rumal (Charu Centre run by DCC) amongst others.
Highlights of international galleries participating include: Galleria Continua who will present works by Anish Kapoor, JR and Osvaldo Gonzalez; Marc Straus will feature Anne Samat; Bruno Art Group will present Andy Warhol; Saskia Fernando Gallery will show internationally-renowned South Asian artists Jagath Weerasinghe and Chandraguptha Thenuwara; Grosvenor Gallery will shine a spotlight on Senaka Senanayake; and finally Aicon will include Rasheed Araeen and Victor Ekpuk within its booth presentation
Your India Art Fair Calendar.(photo:IANSLIFE)
TECH X ART
Inviting audiences to explore and experience the power of digital art, The Studio will house an arresting selection of tech-meets-art projects and installations. This will include a dedicated Digital Residency Hub showcasing artworks made by the three India Art Fair Digital Artists in Residence, all made on iPad Pro and in response to the theme ‘Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.’ Visual artist and illustrator, Mira Felicia Malhotra will highlight the oddities and idiosyncrasies of Indian family life in vibrant portraits of women titled ‘Loag Kya Kahenge’ ; artist, poet and writer Gaurav Ogale will invite audiences to explore the extraordinary biographies of ordinary people through an audio-visual book anthology series ‘Bestsellers’ ; and multidisciplinary artist Varun Desai will create an immersive projection room giving a glimpse of the future, one that fuses artificial intelligence and human consciousness. With an aim to widen participation, Today at Apple will offer hands-on sessions led by Creative Pros focusing on digital art skills on iPad Pro to unlock new styles and techniques to push attendees’ creative expression. The Studio will also host special digital projects supported by the Serendipity Arts Foundation and The Gujral Foundation with video and tech-inspired artworks presented by contemporary artists Julien Segard and Payal Arya and Aditi Kulkarni respectively, along with digital animations and drawings by Shrimanti Saha in an interactive public project supported by Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA).
NEW COMMISSIONS
Marking seven years of partnership, India Art Fair and BMW India continue to foster a spirit of collaboration and provide a breeding ground for creativity, including a special commission entitled The Future is Born of Art, awarded to rising star artist Devika Sundar who will design the wrap for the all-new BMW X7, responding to the theme ‘Forwardism’ and presenting a unique vision of a future where art, science and fiction meet. Shortlisted artists for the commission, which promises to boost emerging Indian names to a global stage, included Aditi Aggarwal, Devika Sundar, Rithika Pandey and Sajid Wajid Shaikh. Fair audiences voted online for the winner on India Art Fair’s website and Instagram channel.
Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India comments: “BMW Group’s social sustainability commitment has always valued and nurtured various cultural engagements and co-operations globally and in India. Our resolve to strengthen intercultural platforms of creativity in the fields of art, music, design and architecture has flourished into long term partnerships with leading art and cultural platforms in the country. BMW India is delighted to present the latest edition of the India Art Fair and The Future is Born of Art commission for connoisseurs for art and automobiles.”
The fair champions a multiplicity of artistic practices and diverse voices through its Artists-in-Residence programme. Debashish Paul will present a performance art piece, which details how art helps him uncover the nuances of his queer identity. The Vayeda brothers will transform the fair’s facade into a Forest of the Future, celebrating their community and ancestors with deep research into Warli traditions, mythological stories and rituals, and a translation of this knowledge to paintings that speak to the now. Conceptual artist Lakshmi Madhavan will revisit the dying kasavu textile tradition of Kerala to act as a thread connecting the past to the future in a newly commissioned gold-and-white textile installation.
The fair programme will feature path-breaking performances by Debashish Paul and Prabhakar Kamble. Paul will evoke the joy of childhood in a performance titled Me & My Pets, holding conversations with imaginary pets, characters and his many internal selves as a means to express and explore his queer identity, while Kamble will call into question caste privilege by walking around blindfolded across the fairgrounds in a performance titled Protected Ignorance.
This year’s Outdoor Art Projects at the fair will include: Parag Tandel’s thought-provoking sculptural installation of the seven small islands that constituted Mumbai before it grew into the mega metropolis that it is today, supported by TARQ, Mumbai; a surreal 8-feet tall and twisted fibreglass scale by Shivani Aggarwal inviting audiences to measure the intangible such as emotions of love, joy, intimacy and truth, supported by Studio Art, New Delhi; a monumental marble dust sculpture resembling a pelvic bone by Prashant Pandey that references the marvellous moment of the birth of life supported by GALLERY MASKARA, Mumbai; Sonia Khurana’s immersive performance installation supported by Kiran Nadar Museum of Art; a curated presentation of Serendipity Arts Foundation’s Food Lab Project; and a large-scale computational art project supported by Tezos India with NFT artworks by Karthik Dondeti, Pixelkar, Aranya and KALA made freely available for visitors to collect on the blockchain.
India Art Fair will publish an all-women led poster zine titled Fire in the Belly for the 2023 edition championing the voices of eight artists and creative powerhouses, including Anikesa Dhing, Aravani Art Project, Aqui Thami, Dhruvi Acharya, Meena Kandasamy, Rithika Pandey, Shilpa Gupta and Zeenat Kulavoor, each sharing their dreams, hopes, prayers and wisdom for an equal world. From pain, pleasure, and mental health to sexuality, the caste system and the body, each poster page will be a blazing response to the theme ‘Fire in the Belly,’ encouraging readers to participate in creating a new world order based on feminist optimism and the power of small actions in introducing lasting change.
INSTITUTIONS
Over 10 leading cultural festivals, collectives and foundations will showcase at the fair, including soft sculptures and book projects by Britto Arts Trust (Dhaka); a series of textile panels by Lakshmi Madhavan for Devi Art Foundation (New Delhi); a never-before-seen painting by Raqib Shaw for Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (New Delhi / NOIDA); and a group show with works by Siwan-based ceramicist Upendra Ram, Goa-based feminist conceptual artist Mayuri Chari. Pune-based graphic and mixed media artist Rupali Patil, Varanasi-based textile artist and designer Anshu Singh debuting at the fair for Art & Soul Foundation (Mumbai). Other participants include Museo Camera (Gurugram), Kochi Biennale Foundation (Kochi) and the Purushottam Public Trust (Vadodara) and a collaborative presentation by Space Studio (Vadodara) and Prameya Art Foundation (New Delhi).
‘ALIGN AND DISRUPT’ TALKS PROGRAMME
Curated by Shaleen Wadhwana, the talks programme taking place in the fair’s Auditorium will dive deep into conversations surrounding the arts, inviting leading artists and arts professionals to align on critical subjects, and collectively shape the future for an inclusive art scene. Highlights include What Are We Causing: Ecology, Environment & Sustainability, a session that brings together eco artists Sharbendu De, Dharmendra Prasad, Rida Gatphoh and Nobina Gupta; two-part panel Looking at Art Historical Blind Spots which will raise important questions around representation of queer, minority religion and Dalit voices in art; Zabaan Aur Pehchaan in which poets Sabika Abbas Naqvi and Pranav Kirti, artist Shuddhabrata Sengupta and Gond artist Japani Shyam discuss language barriers in the path to creativity in a conversation led in Hindi, Disability With(In) The Arts: Looking Inward will lay the ground for a more inclusive art world, Changing Formats of Art Making: Tech, Art and Law, a session dedicated to understanding the fast-changing art ecosystem through a legal lens, amongst others. India Art Fair’s Digital Artists in Residence, Gaurav Ogale, Mira Felicia Malhotra and Varun Desai will also lead interactive sessions curated by Today at Apple, giving audiences an opportunity to step into their vast creative universes, while creating digital artworks of their own using iPad Pro.
PARTNERSHIPS
With creativity at the heart of its partnerships, the fair will welcome leading brands: RADO will launch its classic DiaStar watch redesigned by Swiss designer Alfredo Haberli for its 60th anniversary, ArtBuzz will support a dedicated Workshop Space for artist-led sessions and young collectors masterclasses; DS Group and Kolkata Centre for Creativity will support the fair’s sustainability and inclusivity efforts respectively; and India Sotheby’s International Realty.
BEYOND THE FAIR
Running through the India Art Fair month, the IAF Parallel programme provides a unique multi-layered experience for visitors to celebrate the art scene of New Delhi. This year, the programme will feature powerful women-led exhibitions including Arpita Singh and the late great Indian abstractionist Nasreen Mohamedi at Vadehra Art Gallery, Chitra Ganesh at Gallery Espace, Sumakshi Singh at Exhibit 320 and a group show of 20 + women artists from the Baroda School presented by Anant Art at Bikaner House, along with exciting showcases by Thukral & Tagra at Nature Morte, Debasish Mukherjee at Akar Prakar and Karan Shrestha at Shrine Empire. Kiran Nadar Museum of Art will show Pop South Asia, one of the first major exhibitions of modern and contemporary South Asia engaging with popular culture, The Gujral Foundation will exhibit new paintings and digital artworks by Raghava K.K. whose works often focus on the cultural residues and societal transformations within India, and Devi Art Foundation will present Vayan – Art of Indian Brocades, an exhibition of silk brocades from prominent Indian handloom centres at the National Crafts Museum. Additionally, there will be alternate art spaces including feminist pop illustrations by Osheen Shiva at Pulp Society as well as Threading The Horizon showcasing socially-engaged projects and installations by artists across India at Khoj Studios.
Preview passes and tickets for the 2023 edition of India Art Fair are available for purchase at: indiaartfair.in
Talking about the last two years, Sinha says that the pandemic taught him humility and introduced him to the fact that we do not really have control over things…reports Asian Lite News
He grew up in an industrial environment and his father owned automobile factories. In the dusty, cacophonous surroundings, artist Narayan Sinha found beauty in mechanical mediums and was inspired to reimagine life through them.
As his latest solo exhibition of installations ‘Imbue’ opens at India Habitat Centre on April 27, showcasing diverse metallic and stone sculptural forms made from recycled found material, he says that it is a celebration of life and positivity after a period of several emotional lows.
“Post my ‘Firelight’ series that had negative overtones, I wanted to celebrate life through this one as the pandemic had taught me to live in the moment. This exhibition is a consequence of that sentiment,” he tells.
Considering Sinha’s last exhibition ‘Firelight’ was held in an old Kolkata mansion at Queens Park where the sculptural installations created a unique presence in the space, the artist says art galleries also work as facilitators to take art into newer spaces.
“By exhibiting in an old bungalow, I was trying to highlight the fact that ultimately nature engulfs all that we create for our pleasure and pride. What we spend a lifetime creating is so insignificant in the larger scheme of things. We as a society need to reflect on this.”
Stressing that his work always embraces nature in its diverse forms, which in turn leads to respecting our own natural identity, he adds, “My work is organic by nature. Nuances of life attract me and I love to play with scale. My sculptures must always be relatable to the common man and therefore natural, found, recycled materials find prominence in my work. The common man makes it a conversation piece because they identify with it.”
Talking about the last two years, Sinha says that the pandemic taught him humility and introduced him to the fact that we do not really have control over things.
“In short, it is important to live in the moment and be happy that we are. We were taken unawares when the pandemic hit us. I was in Nalhati village in West Bengal with my daughter, and there was no medical facility available. We were all struck by the virus and the only healing available was nature. For my daughter, all I had was the sunlight’s natural vitamin D, basil leaves and honey.”
While the lockdowns demonstrated that the country needed more private art bodies and foundations to support artists, Sinha feels that it is also high time to empower the state bodies.
“This is so better infrastructure and incentives can be provided to young artists, and they feel sheltered and cared for,” concludes the artist, who is set to work on some international projects in the near future.
The artworks have been hung, the performers have been prepared, and the India Art Fair is all set to celebrate Indian and South Asian art…reports Asian Lite News
The Fair which opens today in the Capital has a features a series of soirees and events around art and culture.
This calendar ensures you don’t miss out on the best it has to offer:
NFTEASE
April 30, 2022, 4 p.m.
Leading NFT artist Raghava K.K. and platforms Terrain.art and BeFantastic will demystify the world of NFTs.
THROUGH THEIR EYES: RAGHU RAI AND EMMANUEL LENAIN
May 1, 2022, 4 p.m.
Iconic Indian photographer and French Ambassador to India will discuss their passion for photography.
BMW ART TALK: ATUL DODIYA
April 30, 2022, 2 p.m.
Dodiya will be the first ever Indian artist to give the prestigious BMW Art Talk. THE CHANGE IS YOURS
May 1, 2022, 2 p.m.
Young artists and collectives will speak about the importance of peer-support and creative sustainable art platforms.
Performance art and outdoor Projects REFLEX: HETAIN PATEL
Location: Auditorium, April 30, 2022, 5 p.m.
The artist will reflect on his identity as a second generation British-Indian, using choreographed movements to explore his inherited family history.
GHAR-GHAR: GURJEET SINGH
Location: The Studio, April 28, 2022, 5 p.m.
A performance about child-like wonder and make believe featuring Singh’s signature soft sculptures.
THE FUTURE IS FEMME: ARAVANI ART PROJECT
Location: India Art Fair grounds
A massive 50-feet mural imagining a binary-free future, supported by Saffronart Foundation.
I LOOK AT THINGS WITH EYES DIFFERENT FROM YOURS: SHILPA GUPTA
Location: India Art Fair grounds
A special T-shirt designed by the artist being worn and brought to life by fair volunteers.
360 MINUTES OF REQUIEM: ARPITA AKHANDA
Location: The Studio, April 29, 2022 & April 30, 2022, 3 p.m.
Over two days of the fair, the artist will deconstruct 360 feet of barbed wire fence as a meditation on partitions and divisions.
ENGULF: NARAYAN SINHA
Location: India Art Fair grounds
A large metal sculpture pointing to balance and harmony in the midst of chaos, supported by Arts Ananda Trust.
Sign up for an art workshop
DOTS, LINES AND SHAPES
Location: Inclusion Lab, April 29, 2022, 11:30am
A workshop that demonstrates the many ways to interpret and perceive information.
INVITING NATURE: STOP-MOTION WORKSHOP
Location: Workshop Space, April 30, 2022, 3 p.m.
Learn how to make collages and short stop-motion animations reflecting your individual concerns about the environment.
GIFT A FLOWER, MAKE A FRIEND: PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
Location: Workshop Space, April 29, 2022, 3 p.m.
Artist Paula Sengupta will lead a printmaking workshop, open to all.
SEEING ME THROUGH YOU: ART APPRECIATION WORKSHOP
Location: Workshop Space, April 29, 2022, 3:30pm & April 30, 2022, 2 p.m.
How do you begin to look at art? Join this guided workshop perfect for those making their start in art.
One of the major and most visible highlights will be the fair facade, which will be transformed into a work of art by the young artist and printmaker Anshuka Mahapatra, celebrating ideas of hope, love, life and togetherness through phrases taken from poems in seven Indian languages…writes Sukant Deepak
From experiencing weekly concerts her grandmother hosted at home in Chennai to her formative education at the Jiddu Krishnamurti School, where her love for art and culture really took off, by the time Jaya Asokan, Director of India Art Fair, scheduled to take from April 28 to May 1 in the Capital, finished school, she went on to study Fine Arts at Stella Marris and Graphic Design at Parsons in New York.
Since then, she has worked broadly in diverse creative roles across design, fashion, jewellery as well as at an auction house and gallery.
“The learning throughout was the value of continuously making bridges across fields, and to work to bring in new ideas and audiences to any creative endeavour. At the India Art Fair too, our hope and mission is to broaden our base of collaborators, collectors and visitors by continually creating exciting content and programmes,” she tells.
Asokan, who took over as Fair Director in April 2021 says it has been a year of learning and experimentation, not just for her, but for the whole team, and that they used as an opportunity to trial and test new ideas to adapt to changing conditions.
“Through the lockdowns and pandemic, we realised the immense potential of art and culture, as entertainment, therapy and an object, which led us to evolve the fair strategy and transition from a 4-day event into a year-round brand with 365 days of presence, whether through pop-up events, programming or editorial.”
Thrilled to return to the physical format in 2022 in partnership with BMW India, the director adds they have expanded our digital activities massively with the goal of becoming a year-round platform championing Indian and South Asian art and artists.
“Our refreshed website with newly commissioned artist films and stories, IAF Parallel exhibitions and events, a Noticeboard section with opportunities for artists and arts-professionals, virtual walkthroughs and workshops around the year will serve as the go-to source for all things Indian and South Asian art,” she says.
However, she feels there’s no greater thing than the magic of a shared experience, and we really look forward to experiencing art in real-time and real space, instead of on screens.
One of the major and most visible highlights will be the fair facade, which will be transformed into a work of art by the young artist and printmaker Anshuka Mahapatra, celebrating ideas of hope, love, life and togetherness through phrases taken from poems in seven Indian languages.
The exhibition halls will welcome some of the most prominent galleries while the fair outdoors will be dotted with monumental art commissions, from the colourful 50-feet long mural titled ‘The Future is Femme’ along the front walkway of the fair created by trans and cis-women artists of Aravani Art Project supported by Saffronart Foundation, and a impressive metal sculpture made of reused silencer pipes evoking optimism in challenging times by the young Kolkata-born and bred Narayan Sinha supported by the Arts Ananda Trust.
Asokan says that besides hosting some of the biggest collectors and art-patrons, we are launching a revamped Young Collectors’ Programme to empower the next generation of collectors with the know-how and confidence to make their first purchases, as well as support artists as patrons.
Talk to her about the fact that Delhi heat in April end might keep many visitors away, and she asserts: “This is the first time that India Art Fair will take place in May, and we look forward to a memorable summer celebration. As always, the fair will ensure the comfort of visitors and will have fully air-conditioned exhibition space and sufficiently shaded outdoor areas.”
With a major focus on inclusivity and accessibility, India Art Fair will be working with ‘Access for All’ so as to create experiences that are welcoming to our diverse audiences. “We are committed to providing similar, if not identical experiences for all visitors participants regardless of their ability and strive for equity, accessibility and inclusion,” she adds.
The exhibition halls will show works of some major artists like Amrita Sher-Gil, V.S. Gaitonde and Nasreen Mohamedi (Chatterjee & Lal), and also contemporary ones Sujith S.N, Faiza Hasan and Subodh Kerkar who will reflect powerfully on climate change and sustainability.
Achia Anzi, Kumar Misal and Baaraan Ijlal for who the personal is political; Tsohil Bhatia, Anupama Alias and Shine Shivan, Suchitra Mattai and Bushra Waqas Khan will make the viewer look at gender and sexuality with new eyes.
