For the past few years, my annual events calendar has been marked with an important event that I thoroughly enjoy visiting – the India Art Fair. Back in 2019, as an earnest blogger who hadn’t yet ventured into the field of features journalism, I visited the India Art Fair for the first time. I was quite blown away by everything I saw. I didn’t have much exposure to contemporary art at that stage, but I have always loved learning about art and culture.
Since that first visit, and with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled due to Covid-19, I have visited this large exhibition every year, armed with an increasing knowledge of this field. This has enabled me to make the most of my visits. I have also covered the India Art Fair for a variety of publications, which has helped me gain close access to the art world.
Honestly, even if you have absolutely no exposure to art, you will certainly benefit from visiting the India Art Fair. It can broaden your horizons and is a great way to enjoy a weekend in Delhi while doing something different and worthwhile. Though this year’s edition is now over, I’m sharing these general tips so you can be well-prepared for your visits to future editions. Just FYI: the India Art Fair usually takes place at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi.
Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed
The India Art Fair website is a highly interactive one. If you sign up for their newsletter through their website, you will stay informed of important announcements throughout the year as well non-art fair related art events. You will also be privy to early bird tickets for the actual fair that come at a discounted rate.
Book your tickets well in advance
The early bird definitely gets the worm, so stay tuned for India Art Fair announcements on their social media channels (if you are not too keen to sign up for the newsletter), to get your tickets at discounted rates.
Avoid the weekends and the opening day VIP slot
Once you have bought the tickets, it would be well to plan your visit so you can avoid excessive crowds. This also enables you to enjoy the art at your own pace. If you have bought or got your hands on the highly coveted VIP passes, you can visit the venue any time on all four days. However, on the first day, you can only visit after 3 PM – which is when the venue becomes extremely crowded. After all, everyone in Delhi is a VIP! And everyone needs to show off that they have first day access… Hahaha! For VIP pass holders, the best time to visit is the second day, which is usually a Friday. The morning of the third day also sees a scant crowd as they open it to public only after 12 PM. Sundays are manic too.
If you have bought the regular tickets, try and visit on Saturday at noon (and grab lunch at the many food stalls) or Sunday morning. Also keep an eye out for important announcements. This time the ticket sales ended on the third day when they exceeded their capacity limit. So, an announcement was sent out that people would not be allowed to enter after 2 PM on Sunday.
A little known secret is the category of passes marked ‘VVIP’, which entitle you to entry on the first morning before it opens to VIPs. That is honestly the best time to go but that timing is usually reserved for people who are actually buying the super expensive art!
Download the schedule and earmark what you want to see
One way to maximise your time is to download the schedule and identify everything you would like to see before your visit. The venue is very large with four huge tents that contain different exhibits – the main galleries, digital and new-age art, the auditorium where the talks take place, and a smaller area reserved for art-related NGOs. The talks are also very interesting, so do earmark a few sessions depending on your area of interest.
Try and attend curated walkthroughs
The other advantage of checking the schedule beforehand is that you can see when the India Art Fair team is conducting curated walkthroughs. For people who have no knowledge of art, this is the best way to learn. Do try and attend one of these. Some private organisations and clubs also organise walkthroughs – check if yours is doing so.
Be on the lookout for famous artists!
Most of the artists whose work is on display attend the India Art Fair on all days. Some of these artists are extremely famous and as they age, it may be your last chance to see them in person! Of course, taking a selfie is great but the best part of running into a famous artist at the fair is being able to ask them about their work. You are sure to come away with an interpretation you may never have considered on your own.
Be mindful of entry and exit gates
The gate for public entry is Gate 6 which is also very conveniently located next to the metro station. However, it’s quite a long walk from Gate 6 to the venue. Buggies do ply back and forth but they fill up fast. Gate 5 which has direct entry, is only for VIP passholders and the traffic leading up to this gate is absolutely crazy because the road is very narrow.
Identify the closest toilets and food / drink stations
The India Art Fair dedicates an entire open area to a large food court where you can buy food of your choice. Bars and coffee stations are also conveniently located throughout – because after all, what is art if not a party?! The main exhibition hall also has a dedicated café, and you can get snacks and drinks at the VIP lounge if you have the VIP pass. Do check out the layout once you enter, so you can save time when you are really hungry!
Carry your water bottle
Though water is available, there are often very long lines at the food kiosks. I recommend carrying your own bottle and filling it up as needed.
Dress comfortably!
Honestly, the India Art Fair is a great time to play around with your fashion choices. Creative people often have fun with their dressing and anything goes while you’re at the fair! However, a word of advice – wear comfortable clothing and shoes because you will be on your feet for a long time and may need to do a lot of walking!
Identify a spot to meet your companions
There is a huge internet connectivity problem inside the venue, so be sure to ask your friends to meet at a specific spot or arrive together.
Take the metro
Unless you have a chauffeur-driven car, do not attempt to arrive in a car because parking is a nightmare here. Though they have dedicated parking lots at the venue, these fill up very fast and you could be forced to park very far away. The metro is a very convenient option as one of its gates takes you directly to the public entry gate.
Ask questions!
Don’t for a second believe that high art of the kind shown at the India Art Fair isn’t for you just because you don’t have knowledge of art. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of any gallerist or artist and you will be surprised at how willing people are to answer and educate! One has to start somewhere, and the India Art Fair is a wonderful place to start.
Now, that you have read my helpful tips for visiting the India Art Fair, here’s a little glimpse of my visit this year. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments!
__________
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Bohemian Bibliophile.
__________
*This is not a sponsored post.
**Copyright in pictures and content belongs to nooranandchawla.com and cannot be republished or repurposed without express permission of the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.
___________