A spirited art scene and a moribund art market have existed hand-in-hand in India. However, with the view that Western markets are now saturated and a lot of art is being scouted in India, the art market here is fast catching up. Among the many exhibitions and art fairs that give a boost to the business is the India Art Fair, which is bigger and better this year. FE brings you a few glimpses
Back in 2008, when Delhi played host to India?s first major international art fair, it unexpectedly revived the country?s ailing modern contemporary art market. Granted, we have a spirited art scene, but a rather moribund art market has also been a reality. However, over the years, contemporary and modern Indian art have built up a great price momentum. With growing international attention?Indian artists appearing at biennials, museum exhibitions, and art fairs?the art market is fast catching up.
Which brings us to this year?s India Art Fair 2012 (formerly India Art Summit), which has just got bigger and better. The fourth edition of the Art Fair, from January 26-29, has a line-up of exhibitors from 20 countries, presenting 1,000 exciting modern and contemporary artists. Blue-chip international galleries like Hauser and Wirth (UK/Switzerland), Galleria Continua (Italy) and White Cube (UK) will be participating, while Lisson Gallery (UK) will be exhibiting at the fair for the third time.
World renowned contemporary artists being showcased include Marina Abramovic, Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum, Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, and many more. Other new exhibitors from around the world include Arndt (Germany), Everard Read (South Africa), Frida Fine Arts (Russia), Kalfayan Galleries (Greece), Salwa Zeidan Gallery (UAE), and Paul Kasmin Gallery (USA). Amongst the 48 leading Indian galleries at the fair, about 75% come from Delhi and Mumbai, while 25% represent seven other cities around the country. The works on display at the art fair are worth between R50-70 crore.
This certainly has pumped in renewed hope among organisers, gallery owners and artists alike, given the fact that the Indian art scene wasn?t really insulated from the global environment of economic uncertainty. ?We have a lot of expectations for this edition of the Fair. Although it has been a slow year as such, we can really achieve a boost as we are building a stronger market now. Western art markets are now saturated. The world believes in the Indian economic power and a lot of art is now being scouted in the Indian market. What we need to do is build a strong market for art and encourage more and more people to get interested in it. That remains one of the key focus areas of the Fair,? says Neha Kirpal, founder and director, India Art Fair.
Roshini Vadehra of Vadehra Art Gallery echoes Kirpal?s positive outlook. ?The Indian art market was affected in the major slump that the economy faced four years ago. However, things are looking positive now as the market has stabilised with less ‘investors’ and more serious collectors who are buying art for art’s sake. Prices continue to remain stable or even increase for all good Indian artists,? she says. However, Vadehra also throws caution to the wind in terms of the systematic lacunae that the market still faces. ?India is still struggling in terms of domestic infrastructure, and a cohesive effort to develop art districts with major galleries, foundations and museums, as is seen in other major cities across the world,? she says.
Artists, too, have differing perspectives on the modern and contemporary art scene in the country. While the Art Fair is unanimously a welcome initiative, content quality being showcased by Indian artists becomes a key focus area. Artist Manjunath Kamath gets uncomfortable with the perception that Indian art still dominantly caters to the West. ?India?s contribution to global modern and contemporary art has just begun. But we still seem to be catering to the Western tastes. Once an art collector from the West told me that Indian art is a branch of Western art. This has to change; we have to contribute to the Indian art scene,? he says. For artist and environmentalist Ravi Agarwal, the need of the hour is to expand the domestic collector base for Indian art. ?There are now several Indian artists globally, we have another perspective different from the dominant Western history. Indian art is changing; people are trying to understand it better. Young artists have different sensibilities and it shows in their work. They are diverse and interesting,? he says.
Tunty Chauhan of Gallery Threshold raises pertinent predicaments that art in India faces, which need to be sorted if the country wishes to be counted among the mature art markets in the world. ?We have far from arrived. We look westward for endorsement of our art. The question is, do we have the ability to stand on our own? The entire enterprise is private with no government support whatsoever. Also, where we lack majorly is criticism. Till there is awareness, everything passes off as good. Where are the reviews? The average gallery goer is unable to make informed choices. These are the gaps that need attention and action, rather than just focusing on the market dynamics,? she says.
On that note, as another edition of an art fair that has shown phenomenal potential comes to an end, Indian art has more reasons to cheer about and, of course, a few unresolved issues that need to be tackled along the way.