Budding artists absorb creative expressions of art

Nonika Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 31

Whether art collectors returned to the fair or not, art enthusiasts certainly did. On the penultimate day of the India Art Fair being held at New Delhi, it's not just art lovers but students and budding artists too made a beeline evincing keen interest in art works and the fair
Why a 125-student delegation from the Government College of Art, Chandigarh, too were at the fair—soaking in and absorbing the creative expressions of art that range from the conventional to the avante-garde.
For the uninitiated, curated walks filled the gap between the artists' creative process and the viewer. So, students of architecture, standing in front of one of the leading artists of Baroda School of Art Gulammohammed Sheikh's astounding work, were informed how the artist has used Gujarati alphabets in his visual vocabulary.
Others learned the basics of the Bengal School of Art. If the Delhi Art Gallery's exhibit is a walk down the lane of history of modern art, the temporary structure where nearly 85 galleries are exhibiting artistic signatures in myriad ways was abuzz with activity and excitement.
Lending glamour to the weekend festivity was actress Sharmila Tagore who was at the fair to release a book on noted artist Sakti Burman in an event organised by Art Alive Gallery.
At the Aakrti art gallery booth, an art critic dwelt on the works of Ram Kumar. And close-by viewers stood transfixed by Atul Dodiya's juxtaposition of twin images on shop shutters, the artists muse for some time.
And it is not just viewers but even buyers seem to be taken in by the artist's creation. The owner of the Vadhera Art Gallery said like previous years, Atul and his wife Anju Dodiya's works had sold well.
And it is not just viewers but even buyers seem to be taken in by the artist's creation. The owner of the Vadhera Art Gallery said like previous years, Atul and his wife Anju Dodiya's works had sold well. Of course, bling sells in India.
And so the Brinkerhoff gallery from the US, here for the first time with its ornamented peacock collection, couldn't have been happier. The unusual works by another artist Stephen Knapp, an interplay of light on a blank canvas involving a rather unusual technique, intrigued one and all and found buyers too and a host of serious queries.
A whole lot of artists and galleries as of now had to be content with interest shown by prospective buyers.
Which way the cookie would crumble will be known by tomorrow as for now both organizers of the fair and the gallery owners were noncommittal about actual sales figure.
But the astronomical sale figures or not, the fair remained a lifestyle affair --- high on merriment what with its rooftop restaurant and the exclusive cigar lounge attracting well-known collectors such as Kiran Nadar.
Clearly, art is luxury, lifestyle and has a serious side too.  All of this manifested at the fair.