In the hurly-burly of Delhi’s art world, photography has moved several ranks from its kitschy moorings to the exalted status of fine art. It enjoys a pride of place in offices, studio apartments, boutique hotels and even stand-alone homes. Emerging artists are now in demand and the Capital has
photo galleries that suit every pocket.
Jindal Photo, Wonderwall and Tasveer are the leading houses that have a stockpile of hundreds of works of old and new photographers. In November, when Jindal Photo organised the Fuji SuperSix exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademy, it showcased a battery of some of the best emerging artists in the country.
Young and enterprising, these photographers put up works that had a distinctly fresh perspective. “Photographs are a lot cheaper than heavy oils and easy to maintain. Yet, they give a peppy boutique look to your home. Photographs are also gaining popularity as an investment,” said Shalini Gupta, proprieter of gallery, Tasveer.
A framed photograph lends a contemporary look as opposed to the classic look of a rich oil canvas, says designer Natasha Arora who made over a three-bedroom apartment of Ashok and Aarti Mehra with black-and-white. The Mehras’ new apartment is in dual-tone, the colour scheme being black and white. “I suggested black-and-whites by Aditi Singh to complement the Zen look,” Arora said.
Galleries like Wonderwall offer a range of choices in artists and works: from abstract, architecture, monochromes and body forms to stills and portraits. “Mumbai may be the hub of fashion and calendar photography, but Delhi has emerged as the hottest destination for fine art photography,” says Mumbai-based Nalini Menon who runs Adonis Studio. Artists like Delhi-born Anuksha Nadia Menon, Prateek Singhi and Kashmir-born Syed Azhar Qayoom have the best in photography to offer.