Enjoy the love fest

The 10th edition of India Art Fair opened on Friday with a “refreshed and expanded programme” and a continued focus on South Asian arts.

“Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul. And you answer.” Terri Guillemets

A girl clicks herself with the artwork of Debanjan Roy, Akar Prakar, during the India Art Fair 2018 at in New Delhi on Friday. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

I have stayed away from The India Art Fair for some years. It is invariably injurious to my fiscal discipline.

But this year I had heard glorious things about the Fair. About how the aisles were far more civil, the booths a lot larger and the food, quite fantastic.

All of it is true.

Now it is impossible to see a Fair of this scale in a few hours. But I had decided to curate my own first day. I knew exactly which galleries I would like to stop by and whose work I had to see.

So here are the galleries that I recommend you see. Though I am certain that there are a lot more to marvel at.

EXPERIMENTER: C1

I am deeply fond of Priyanka and Prateek Raja who run, what I think, is the most rigorous gallery in the country. There is a certain gravitas to Experimenter. And deep courage in their practice. And they have always championed the outlier artist. I have seen the progress that Rathin Burman’s work has made over the years. His works are brilliant. Ayesha Sultana, in my estimation, is the next Zarina Hashmi. There is a song of silence in her work. It exudes a simplicity and sophistication that is horribly seductive. Julien Segard’s work is large. Yet demure.

ANANT ART: A7

Mamta Singhania has always run the most measured gallery that I have ever known. Years ago, she took a sabbatical from art and I was delighted to see her back this year. Mamta knows what I like. So she pointed me towards Birender Kumar Yadav’s work. It is plain exquisite.

EXHIBIT 320: B 8

Rasika Kajaria has always pushed the boundary. Always showcased the contemporary. Sumakshi Singh’s work has always been poetic. But this year, it takes a leap. It is fragile yet wonderful. But what stopped me in the tracks was Parul Gupta’s work. It is bold and arresting.

PHOTOINK and GALLERSKYE: B3 AND B1

At PHOTOINK’S Project Booth look out for the never-before-seen image of Amrita Sher Gill shot by Victor Egan. At GALLERSKE do observe a work called “GUST OF WIND”. By Pors & Rao. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Even Astha Butail’s work is simply marvellous.

SHRINE EMPIRE A 6

Shrine has some stunning work by three artists. Zoya Siddiqui’s life size video work is magnificent. Raj Jariwal’s paper works are meticulous and magnificent. And Khusbu Patel’s minimalistic work is achingly stunning.

So there you go. These are the galleries and artists that floated my boat.

Philip Hicken once said, “Art is not paint. It’s love.”

Enjoy the love fest.