Each year, we turn the India Art Fair (IAF) façade into a literal work of art, and this edition is no exception. It is an excellent opportunity to feature young artists from India, and for the first time this year, we have selected Anshuka Mahapatra through an open call in partnership with the Gujral Foundation and Artdemic, which are platforms that have supported artists during the pandemic through weekly grants. The 24-year-old artist is currently pursuing her master’s degree from the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, Hyderabad. She will respond to the theme of ‘Deep Future’, which entails raising questions around creativity, sustainability, and climate change.
Bhagyashree Suthar, untitled, 2021, courtesy of Akara Art
Soghra Khurasani, Fragile, 2021, courtesy of TARQ
The fair will also showcase over 50 galleries from across India, South Asia, and beyond, bringing together a vibrant mix of cutting-edge conceptual artists at Jhaveri Contemporary, and artists with a distinctly Indian aesthetic to Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Vadehra Art Gallery, and Apparao Galleries. A specially curated ‘Platform’ section is another important highlight, lending contemporary practitioners of traditional Indian art forms—like Madhubani and Gond art—their much-deserved attention. Treasures of Indian art at DAG’s and Dhoomimal Gallery’s booths will give visitors a peek into the history of India’s modernists, while affordable and limited-edition prints by modern masters like M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, B.V. Doshi, and Madhvi Parekh, will be available at the Archer Art Gallery, specifically catering to new collectors. Noa Eshkol’s vibrant wall carpets at the booth of the Berlin-based Neugerriemschneider gallery is another key feature to watch out for.
Gurjeet Singh, untitled, 2020, courtesy of the artist
This year, our amazing line-up of artists in residence—all new but powerful voices—will include feminist artist-photographer Indu Antony; Gurjeet Singh, who is known for soft sculptures celebrating queerness; London-based artist Haroun Hayward; and Arpita Akhanda, an emerging name in performance art. They will lead workshops, talks, and film screenings, while free poster art will be available for anyone to download from the IAF website.
Aravani Art Collective, Reveals, 2020, courtesy of Aravani Art Project
We have over 10 institutions participating at the fair, many of whom will show large-scale, interactive outdoor projects from the past year. Right from the fair entrance and walkway, which will be decorated with murals painted by Aravani Art Project—a Bengaluru-based collective of trans artists—and an open-air library of art books by Serendipity Arts Foundation. Some of India’s biggest cultural festivals like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and Chennai Photo Biennale will be at the fair, along with the performance hub HH Art Spaces led by artist Nikhil Chopra.
We have noticed a great appetite for digital art among millennials. This year, the fair will have an extensive ‘Young Collectors Programme’—a social and educational initiative that engages with the next generation of art buyers.