Vidya Prabhu

With soaring prices of artworks by Indian artists, Indian art seems to be getting its due. India will now have its first ever international art fair—India Art Summit— slated to take place this August (22-24) at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.

The India Art Summit should see participation from over 40 exhibitors and 6000 visitors from both India and overseas.

This initiative is being supported by artists including Anjolie Ela Menon, SH Raza and Krishen Khanna. It also aims at bringing together a range of stakeholders supporting the business and development of art in India—right from artists, galleries, art funds, auction houses, art insurers/art framers to art valuators/ restorers, art movers and packers, interior decorators and architects, and art critics.

“All over the world artists have a chance to participate in biennales and triennales where there’s great enthusiasm and lots of progressive discussion. India has always lagged behind in this. So efforts like this are a great beginning in this direction,” says artist Anjolie Ela Menon.

Raza notes, “An initiative like this will go a long way to promote cultural development in India and abroad.”

Not surprisingly, industrialist cum patron-turned-gallery owner Yash Birla and Sangita Jindal, an avid collector and publisher of an art magazine, are amongst the many who are supporting the move. In fact, Phillip Hoffman, chief executive of the UK-based The Fine Art Fund Group, will also be present for the summit.

The summit will be an annual event from now on. It will provide a platform for discussions by internationally renowned speakers on topics such as development and growth of Indian art, fluctuations in the art market and investment trends, valuation issues and authenticity of art works amongst others.