“The 2023 edition of India Art Fair will be a defining moment for the art world as we emerge from the pandemic,” says Jaya Asokan, Director of the India Art Fair. Opening this week, the team is determined to deliver the largest and most ambitious edition yet, featuring a diverse range of new and emerging artists from all corners of India and South Asia. “Our goal is not only to expand the art market, but also to uplift powerful perspectives on issues that affect us all, such as mental health, gender, sexual orientation and ecology, through a unique South Asian lens. The art scene has seen a transformative shift, and together with our artists, galleries and partners, we’re proud to pave the way for a bold and inclusive new era in the art world.’ More on her curatorial process and insights below.
What was your curatorial process like for this year’s edition?
Our curatorial process is one of tireless dedication and commitment to championing the work of South Asian art and artists. It is a process rooted in diversity, inclusivity and constant questioning and reflection. Our team, made up of individuals from different backgrounds, ages and abilities, works together to conduct extensive research and engage in ongoing dialogue and debate. We travel both locally and internationally to build networks and relationships, all of which come together to create a truly meaningful and powerful fair, both at the four-day event as well as in our year-round programmes.
What do you want the audience to take away from this edition?
To step out, experience and realise the power of art. I hope a visit to India Art Fair pushes audiences to lead a more cre- atively rich and inspired lives. As aware audiences and citizens, we should understand our role in championing and forwarding the legacy and stories of the region. I want visitors to engage, ask questions and for those who can, buy and collect art and in doing so, contribute their part in empowering artists and the community around to own their culture. Or at the very least, I hope they have a fun cultural day out!
As a curator, researcher and art enthusiast, what are your artistic concerns?
We want to continue to celebrate the excellence of Indian art and create as many opportunities as possible for our artists to showcase their creative strength and rigour. The 2023 fair will present a wide range of artists, from global superstars such as Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei and Kiki Smith, to iconic masterpieces by artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Shergil and M.F. Husain, to ultra-contemporary voices that will be featured in the fair. We’re also excited to introduce our first-ever Digital Artists in Residence (DAIR) programme, which will showcase the work of Gaurav Ogale, Mira Felicia Malhotra and Varun Desai, all of whom will engage with audiences in sessions curated by Today at Apple. Through this programme, we aim to provide a platform for digital artists to showcase their arresting digital projects and artworks in The Studio. This year, we’re also proud to introduce India Art Fair’s first-ever poster zine titled Fire in the Belly featuring eight womxn artists and creative powerhouses. This is a way for us to make a statement about the art world. Featuring internationally recognised artists, activists and writers Anikesa Dhing, Aravani Art Project, Aqui Thami, Dhruvi Acharya, Meena Kandasamy, Rithika Pandey, Shilpa Gupta and Zeenat Kulavoor, the zine is meant to be torn, pasted and used to spread feminist messages towards creating a more equal world. The action-oriented spirit of our zine will also be carried through the talks programme. Titled Align & Disrupt and curated by independent arts educator and curator Shaleen Wadhwana, each conversation will deep-dive into important questions, from representation, philanthropy, patronage, to disability and sustainability. For the first time, the key learnings from the talks will be documented in an action-plan which will be widely circulated and made accessible to the public.
How do you think the art world has changed in these years? What do you think the next big thing in art is?
The passion and interest for collecting has grown through the pandemic, and in 2022, we saw record-breaking sales at the fair, the best ever in its history, highlighting the strong and rising domestic demand for South Asian art, despite limitations imposed by the pandemic oninternational travel. This proves we are on the cusp of a new era in the art world, where South Asian art will continue to gain recognition and popularity both locally and
internationally. Additionally, the use of technology in the art world is becoming more prevalent, which will change the way we interact with and experience art. The next big thing in art is likely to be a combination of these elements.
What kind of art do you gravitate towards as a viewer and engage with as a curator?
As a viewer, I gravitate towards art that tells a story or poses a question, or depicts something in an uncommon way. As a curator, I like to engage with art and art projects that challenge the viewer’s perspective and spark conversation. At the 2023 fair, you can expect to see a diverse range of interactive outdoor art projects that will delight and surprise you. From the expansive facade of the fair, which will be transformed into a mesmerising Forest of The Future by contemporary Warli artists and sibling duo Vayeda Brothers, a room made of adhesive tape and light made by Galleria Continua artist Osvaldo Gonsalez, to the larger-than-life installation by Parag Tandel that recreates the seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai before it grew into the urban metropolis that we know today, Shivani Aggarwal’s mega-sized scale that questions the modern society’s obsession with measuring everything, including bare intangible human emotions, to an ambitious computational art project by rising digital artists Karthik Dondeti, Pixelkar, Aranya And Kala supported by Tezos India, these artworks and many more will be on display for you to explore and engage with.
This article is an all exclusive from our February EZ. To read more such articles, follow the link here.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 08-02-2023
What was your curatorial process like for this year’s edition?
Our curatorial process is one of tireless dedication and commitment to championing the work of South Asian art and artists. It is a process rooted in diversity, inclusivity and constant questioning and reflection. Our team, made up of individuals from different backgrounds, ages and abilities, works together to conduct extensive research and engage in ongoing dialogue and debate. We travel both locally and internationally to build networks and relationships, all of which come together to create a truly meaningful and powerful fair, both at the four-day event as well as in our year-round programmes.
What do you want the audience to take away from this edition?
To step out, experience and realise the power of art. I hope a visit to India Art Fair pushes audiences to lead a more cre- atively rich and inspired lives. As aware audiences and citizens, we should understand our role in championing and forwarding the legacy and stories of the region. I want visitors to engage, ask questions and for those who can, buy and collect art and in doing so, contribute their part in empowering artists and the community around to own their culture. Or at the very least, I hope they have a fun cultural day out!
As a curator, researcher and art enthusiast, what are your artistic concerns?
We want to continue to celebrate the excellence of Indian art and create as many opportunities as possible for our artists to showcase their creative strength and rigour. The 2023 fair will present a wide range of artists, from global superstars such as Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei and Kiki Smith, to iconic masterpieces by artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Shergil and M.F. Husain, to ultra-contemporary voices that will be featured in the fair. We’re also excited to introduce our first-ever Digital Artists in Residence (DAIR) programme, which will showcase the work of Gaurav Ogale, Mira Felicia Malhotra and Varun Desai, all of whom will engage with audiences in sessions curated by Today at Apple. Through this programme, we aim to provide a platform for digital artists to showcase their arresting digital projects and artworks in The Studio. This year, we’re also proud to introduce India Art Fair’s first-ever poster zine titled Fire in the Belly featuring eight womxn artists and creative powerhouses. This is a way for us to make a statement about the art world. Featuring internationally recognised artists, activists and writers Anikesa Dhing, Aravani Art Project, Aqui Thami, Dhruvi Acharya, Meena Kandasamy, Rithika Pandey, Shilpa Gupta and Zeenat Kulavoor, the zine is meant to be torn, pasted and used to spread feminist messages towards creating a more equal world. The action-oriented spirit of our zine will also be carried through the talks programme. Titled Align & Disrupt and curated by independent arts educator and curator Shaleen Wadhwana, each conversation will deep-dive into important questions, from representation, philanthropy, patronage, to disability and sustainability. For the first time, the key learnings from the talks will be documented in an action-plan which will be widely circulated and made accessible to the public.
How do you think the art world has changed in these years? What do you think the next big thing in art is?
The passion and interest for collecting has grown through the pandemic, and in 2022, we saw record-breaking sales at the fair, the best ever in its history, highlighting the strong and rising domestic demand for South Asian art, despite limitations imposed by the pandemic oninternational travel. This proves we are on the cusp of a new era in the art world, where South Asian art will continue to gain recognition and popularity both locally and
internationally. Additionally, the use of technology in the art world is becoming more prevalent, which will change the way we interact with and experience art. The next big thing in art is likely to be a combination of these elements.
What kind of art do you gravitate towards as a viewer and engage with as a curator?
As a viewer, I gravitate towards art that tells a story or poses a question, or depicts something in an uncommon way. As a curator, I like to engage with art and art projects that challenge the viewer’s perspective and spark conversation. At the 2023 fair, you can expect to see a diverse range of interactive outdoor art projects that will delight and surprise you. From the expansive facade of the fair, which will be transformed into a mesmerising Forest of The Future by contemporary Warli artists and sibling duo Vayeda Brothers, a room made of adhesive tape and light made by Galleria Continua artist Osvaldo Gonsalez, to the larger-than-life installation by Parag Tandel that recreates the seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai before it grew into the urban metropolis that we know today, Shivani Aggarwal’s mega-sized scale that questions the modern society’s obsession with measuring everything, including bare intangible human emotions, to an ambitious computational art project by rising digital artists Karthik Dondeti, Pixelkar, Aranya And Kala supported by Tezos India, these artworks and many more will be on display for you to explore and engage with.
This article is an all exclusive from our February EZ. To read more such articles, follow the link here.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 08-02-2023