A stunning canvas

As the sun sets on 2024, and we stand on the threshold of 2025, the art scene in India is buzzing and thriving. The 16th edition of the India Art Fair will be held in New Delhi from February 6-9, featuring a record number of 116 exhibitors. After a dazzling debut in 2024, the Design section returns with an expanded range of 11 eminent design studios from India and abroad. The highlight of this year’s edition will be a site-specific LED installation put together by conceptual artist duo Claire Fontaine. It dwells upon the celebrated work ‘Stranieri Ovunique’, translated as ‘Foreigners Everywhere’.

Down South, the ongoing Chennai Photo Biennale (CPB) Edition 4 is on view till March 16 across multiple venues in the metropolis. Revolving around the central thematic theme of ‘Why Photograph?’, inspired by the work of visual artist Dayanita Singh, the biennale endeavours to allow visitors to ponder over the process and purpose of photography in a world that is obsessed with images and selfies. How a photograph is a representation of cultural dynamics and contemporary visual narratives can be explored through the works of emerging and established artists.

The Bombay Art Society’s (BAS) All India Annual Art Exhibition is another important art event on India’s visual art calendar. With its genesis in 1888, this mega cultural extravaganza sees participation by artists from across the length and breadth of the country. The 133rd edition will be held from March 11 to 17 at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

Nature Morte, Mumbai, would be hosting a show by artist-architect Martand Khosla in March-April. He explores the transformation of urban landscapes, with material from construction sites becoming a metaphor for his narrative on the dynamism of demolition and rebuilding and its impact on the cultural ethos of a populace. The summer months of mid-April to May will feature an exhibition by Vibha Galhotra, also in Mumbai. The Chandigarh-born artist studies the world in light of capitalism, globalisation, climate change and mindless consumerism and presents her view on these issues with a deeply meditative and intuitive representation through her art. It is interesting how both Khosla and Galhotra use art to reflect on the ever-evolving urban spaces.

The Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi will host a solo show by photographer Gauri Gill in February-March. ‘The Village on the Highway’ documents the farmers’ protests against laws that are impacting their livelihoods. Barred from entering the capital’s borders in 2020-21, how these farmers ended up erecting temporary dwellings across the highways of Punjab and Haryana leading into Delhi forms the subject of her immersive photography. A solo exhibition, ‘Cities: Built, Broken’, by Mumbai-based contemporary artist Sudhir Patwardhan will be showcased at the same gallery from February to March. His truncated figures in the bustling melee of urban structures like flyovers, high-rises, elevated walkways and tall bridges are akin to a socio-political statement of the evolution of a city that is also the artist’s home.

The show will eventually move to the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) that will be held from December 12, 2025, to March 31, 2026 and will be a platform for showcasing works by some 60 contemporary artists. The biennale will be curated by artist Nikhil Chopra and his team. According to Bose Krishnamachari, president of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation, “I am pleased that KBF is evolving into an institution that is reflexive, responsible and sustainable. I have always believed that the cosmopolitanism of Kochi and the Biennale are vital and much needed sites for learning and creativity, and also a place that welcomes diverse cultures from around the world.”

The highlight of the year would be Krishen Khanna’s 100th birthday in July. He is literally the last man standing of the Progressive Artists’ Group. His seminal creations traverse a tapestry of abstract and figurative elements that he deploys to depict social and political issues as well as human conditions. Born in Faisalabad (now in Pakistan) in 1925, Khanna experienced the pangs of Partition and was uprooted from his home in his early 20s. That explains his most iconic paintings that span from Partition to the ‘bandwallahs’ of Mumbai, the truck drivers and commentaries on political events like Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, and more.

Vikram Bachhawat, director of Gallery Aakriti, says: “Krishen Khanna, a towering figure in Indian modern art, stands as a testament to the power of storytelling through a painter’s brush. As we celebrate his centenary, we honour not only his masterful ability to capture the human spirit, but also his lifelong dedication to bridging tradition and modernity. Aakriti Art Gallery’s 20th anniversary in 2025 will include the ‘Masterpieces’ show, which will feature an early work by the legend, providing a rare glimpse into the formative years of this iconic artist’s journey.”

At Latitude 28 in New Delhi, one can look forward to the solo exhibition of Yogesh Ramkrishna. Bhavna Kakkar shares: “This show delves into the constructs of virtual reality and offers a critical lens on how media, virtual worlds, and curated identities increasingly permeate and redefine our lived experiences. Besides, Jyoti Bhatt’s show, curated by Rekha Rodwittiya, presents an extraordinary opportunity to delve into the practice of one of Indian art’s most pioneering figures.”

Renu Modi, founder of Gallery Espace, also promises a “diverse and dynamic” roster of exhibitions. Director of Emami Art in Kolkata, Richa Agarwal, says, “Rooted in the rich heritage of the eastern region of the country, we continue to draw inspiration from Kolkata and Bengal’s vibrant cultural legacy. As we look to 2025, we remain committed to enriching the art landscape and extending our global presence.”

— The Delhi-based writer contributes on arts