11 Works You Must See at the India Art Fair 2019

With a sculpture by Seema Kohli at Gallery Veda

We live amidst a vibrant art scene in Delhi, and the India Art Fair is an ideal introduction to various artists and their work. The large scale of the fair can be quite overwhelming, hence, Algebra- The Arts & Ideas Club, organised a guided walk with renowned writer and art curator Ina Puri; on the ten essential works to be seen at the India Art Fair 2019.

Ms. Puri showed us her favourite works, while encouraging us to explore the entire fair ourselves. Art is a subjective medium, open to wildly different interpretations from one person to the next. With that in mind, read on to know the must-see works at the India Art Fair 2019, categorised by galleries and stall numbers.

Ina Puri- writer, biographer, art curator and collector. 

1. BRITTO ARTS TRUST, BANGLADESH- E11:

This trust works with a select group of artist and explores themes of displacement and migration. Founder member Mahbubur Rahman’s provocative work is on display.

2. ART ALIVE GALLERY, DELHI- B15, E10:

This premier gallery displays works of many iconic artists, but our attention was drawn to “Haritri” by Jayasri Barman, with a wonderfully contemporary handling of age-old techniques. The gallery’s second booth showed works of upcoming artists like Sneha Sheth, known for her intricate thread work pieces.

Kingsley Gunatilake’s work at Blueprint12 Gallery

3. BLUEPRINT12 GALLERY, DELHI- E09:

This gallery works extensively with international artists from war-torn nations. The miniature models of Kingsley Gunatilake from Sri Lanka, are a fine example.

4. SAKSHI GALLERY, MUMBAI-C07:

This gallery showcases contemporary artists like Surendran Nair, and Rekha Rodwittiya. I was most drawn to Valay Shende’s rupee coin with an encased screen, playing a film about a man and a lion; to signify the negative effects of demonetization.

“See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil” at Vadehra Gallery

5. VADEHRA GALLERY, DELHI- B05:

At one of India’s foremost art galleries, we saw the work of Arpita Singh. By using a deliberately naïve style, she seeks to create a provocative narrative.

6. DELHI ART GALLERY (DAG)- B16:

This gallery curates masterpieces of modern Indian art, that present the work of established artists, in a new light. Manjit Bawa’s “Death of Krishna” and Krishen Khanna’s “Draupadi” are impactful examples of the gallery’s philosophy.

Sudipta Das’ work on migration at Gallery Latitude 28

7. GALLERY LATITUDE 28, DELHI- C10:

This gallery supports younger, upcoming artists. Radhika Aggarwal’s bronze “Touch me not”, is a telling commentary on the destruction of the environment. Vir Munshi’s papier mache deer, focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pundits to urban environments they’re unfamiliar with.  Sudipta Das’ Korean paper dolls are a powerful visual on migration and the impermanence of life.

8. JHAVERI CONTEMPORARY GALLERY, MUMBAI- A02:

Here, we saw the work of Monika Correa, where traditional handloom weaves were used to create an interesting 3D visual.

9. PHOTOINK GALLERY, DELHI- B03:

This photo gallery has curated the photography of Umrao Singh Shergill, father of Amrita Shergill, along with a collection of his writings. Ketaki Sheth’s collection of pictures from Indian Photo Studios, and Dileep Prakash’s photos of Indian Dak Bungalows at night, are also fascinating.

Atul Dodiya’s “Gandhi Entering Birla’s Packard” at Chemould Gallery

10. CHEMOULD PRESCOTT ROAD GALLERY, MUMBAI- F04:

This gallery is known for promoting Indian art on many international platforms. I was most drawn to Atul Dodiya’s “Gandhi Entering Birla’s Packard”. Dodiya refers to Gandhi as the 1st artist of non-violence, and this work is an apt homage to him and Tagore, another icon for Dodiya. Mithu Sen’s works on self-censuring are a powerful response to the censor-friendly government in power.

11. EXPERIMENTER GALLERY, KOLKATTA- C01:

This young gallery promotes some path-breaking art work. A section of their display is dedicated to Krishna Reddy’s multicolour printing viscosity technique on mono prints.

With Ina Puri

Apart from these 11 picks, one should view the work of artist David Zwirner, exhibiting for the first time in India. Seema Kohli’s “Moon Myths” installation at Gallery Veda, Thomas Laird’s “Murals of Tibet” at Taschen, and interesting craft work by the Delhi Crafts Council and Swaraj Art Archive; are also noteworthy. The Maitri Workshop Space at the Forum organises art workshops for people of all ages, an ideal way to introduce your children to art. You should also visit the stalls of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Serendipity Arts Foundation, and FICA; which work to generate awareness about different forms of art.

I’m very grateful to Ina Puri and the Algebra club for this insightful guided tour.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIA ART FAIR:

Venue: NSIC Exhibition Ground, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi

Time: Saturday: Cardholders: 11 am- 2 pm

                           Public: 2 pm – 7 pm

           Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm

Tickets: INR 700; INR 350 for students

*Unless specified, all photos are taken on my phone. Copyright belongs to nooranandchawla.

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