An Art Expert Gives Us 5 Reasons You Should Be At The India Art Fair This Weekend

The India Art Fair is back for its 10th edition with works from 78 galleries from across the world. If you’re an art enthusiast, we’re pretty sure that the IAF, happening at the NSIC Grounds from Feb 10-12, is already on your radar. If you’re not, art expert and Director of Emami Art {Kolkata} – Richa Agarwal’s top five reasons to attend the IAF this year will make you want to drop by.

“The IAF this year has a great line-up of art projects which. for the first time, will have a dedicated exhibition space. I’m particularly excited to see such a strong show of women at the fair, including Hema Upadhyay, Navjot Altaf, Tanya Goel and Shilpa Gupta.”

“The fair serves to unite the local art scene with a co-ordinated series of collateral events around Delhi during what is becoming traditionally known as the country’s busiest week in the cultural calendar. I am really looking forward to Vivan Sundaram’s retrospective at KNMA, ‘Step Inside And You Are No Longer A Stranger’ A Retrospective: Fifty Years – Vivan Sundaram. The show traces the artist’s development over the last half-century, exploring his unique trajectory as an artist, curator and editor.”

“I always look forward to the talks programme at the fair which promotes discussion and discourse on a variety of subjects.  I’ll be sure to attend as many of the talks as I can, including Art, Politics, Ideology by Dr Alka Pande, and Samit Das talking about the interesting works of artist and activist Brij Mohan Anand.”

“Every year, IAF organises curated walks around different themes that are led by art students, and have always been a popular fixture at the fair. I personally find these really useful and informative, as they help audiences to navigate the fair and prompt conversations, as well as help them understand art better. I would highly recommend being a part of these walks for a informative look at the fair.”

“It is also exciting to see the increased focus on vernacular arts as part of the ‘Platform’ section. It would be interesting to see Tribal Art Forms and Delhi Crafts Council exhibit at the fair, showcasing a new interpretation of India’s rich vernacular art culture.”