The 14th edition of the India Art Fair is back with its “most ambitious showcase ever”, complete with 71 art galleries and 14 institutions. While we got IAF director Jaya Asokan to share what exactly makes this one “bigger and better”, we also got the curator extraordinaire to share her recommendations of things you absolutely cannot miss at the event.
So without further ado, here are five things you cannot miss at the 14th edition of India Art Fair…
Vayeda Brothers’ Warli Art Facade
“The Vayeda Brothers, who are Worli artists, have done a contemporary intervention on the facade. So we feel we’ve gotten bigger and better where it’s not just inside the halls, but even the facade itself has that traditional element to it,” says Asokan. The stunning facade is reportedly the biggest canvas in Delhi at the moment and cannot be missed.
Canvas or Car?
IAF and BMW took their partnership a step further with a special commission titled ‘The Future Is Born Of Art’. Rising artist Devika Sundar has designed 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. The stunning art piece is something that should be on your IAF itinerary for sure.
Future of Modern Art
“This is something new for us and we feel that digital art is the future. It’s not going to replace traditional art forms, but it is very much a part of the conversation in 2023,” says Asokan on the newly introduced Digital Artist In Residence. A dedicated Digital Residency Hub will showcase artworks made by three digital artists, including Mira Felicia Malhotra, Gaurav Ogale, and Varun Desai, all made on iPad Pro and in response to the theme ‘Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary’.
Revisiting the Past
IAF introduced the Platform section last year which highlighted traditional Indian art forms through a well-curated showcase. This edition takes it a step further by throwing light on contemporary practitioners of the old Indian art and craft forms. Do not miss a chance to acquaint yourself with the practices that are at the foundation of modern art in India, including art forms like 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.
‘Fire in the Belly’ Zine
IAF 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. The zine, backed by these powerhouse names, covers subjects like sexuality, mental health, pleasure, caste system, and more.
India Art Fair takes place from 9-12th February at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi.
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