Photo report from India Art Fair 2012

27/01/2012

From January 25-29, the colorful city of contrasts, New Delhi, is hosting the contemporary art fair, India Art Fair (previously known as India Art Summit). Latvia's “Galerija 21” has been invited to participate for the third year already.

Inspired by the successful concept behind London's Frieze, this year's India Art Fair will also take place in a venue specially built for it, designed by the Indian stage and set designer, Sumant Jayakrishnan. Prominent Indian art galleries taking part in the Fair include Latitude 28, Nature Morte, Vadehra Art Gallery and Religare Arts Initiative. International guests feature such well-known names as – Lisson Gallery (London), Grosvenor Gallery (London), Galleria Continua (San Gimignano), Hauser and Wirth (Zurich, London, New York) and White Cube (London).

Latvia's “Galerija 21” will feature three Latvian artists in its exhibition (Anita Arbidāne, Harijs Brants Anda Lāce), as well as the Indian artist Muddaiah Shantamani, who creates coal sculptures.

London's prestigious Lisson gallery took a big risk this year – instead of showing works by Anish Kapoor, as was expected, they have, for the first time in India, put on a mini-exhibition by Marina Abramović. Representatives of the gallery have admitted to Arterriotry.com that it was a big gamble, but that it has paid off – the response has been wonderful. The displayed works even have a connection to Indian culture – Abramović's photographs, “The Kitchen Series”, reflect women's connection to the kitchen and the role that has been forced upon them, or in other cases, the role that they have accepted.