Be Hold the World

The 16th edition of the India Art Fair (IAF) transcended the confines of a traditional art exhibi­tion, spilling into the city with an infectious energy that rippled across Delhi’s cultural and economic landscape. More than just an art fair, it became a celebra­tion of solidarity, artistic freedom, and dynamic cultural exchange, reflecting the fraught spirit of our times.

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

This year’s fair brought together a record number of 120 exhibitors, featuring a balanced mix of leading national and international players, including David Zwirner, Lisson Gallery, Galleria Continua and Carpenters Workshop Gallery. The presence of prestigious institutions, alongside new galleries and experimental projects, in­fused fresh energy, reinforc­ing IAF’s position as a critical node in the global art ecosystem.

STANDOUT WORKS One of the most captivating discoveries was Anindita Bhattacharya, whose practice is deeply root­ed in Indian miniature tradi­tions, expressed through natural pigments on wasli paper. Her layered composi­tions—where typography and calligraphy dissolve into a textured memoryscape— exemplify an exquisite synthesis of craftsmanship and conceptual depth. Bhat­tacharya just received the BW Masterpiece Under 40 and the BW Art Excellence Award (Gold) —2025.

Yogesh Barve’s striking in­stallation, I Am Not Your Dalit, used suspended LED tickers to display the writings of Ambedkar, Periyar, and Phule, confronting caste discrimi­nation and the erasure of marginalised histories. The work demanded urgent reflection on justice, access, and the future of social equity.

M Pravat’s large-scale terracotta, multimedia sculptures, and sound installations left a lasting impact, as did Jayashree Chakravarty’s rigorously sculpted painterly compositions. Subodh Gupta’s AI-incorporated instal­lation reaffirmed his ability to trans­form everyday objects into profound artistic statements.

Meanwhile, young artists like Abdulla PA, Arjun Das, and Ali Akbar PN brought fresh perspectives, signal­ling the emergence of a new generation of voices in contemporary Indian art.

The introduction of a dedicated de­sign section was another key milestone, featuring works by Nynika Jhaveri, whose Memphis Group-inspired aes­thetics offered a bold take on contempo­rary Indian design. Alongside her, Anikesa Dhing and Thamshangpha (Merci) Maku from Assam presented cutting-edge explorations of material and form. Design interventions by Ashiesh Shah, reflecting Kerala’s domestic culture, and Sandeep & Tania Khosla’s sculptural objects—blending cement casting with traditional carving—expanded the fair’s creative scope, reinforcing its commit­ment to interdisciplinary innovation.

ART AND INFLUENCE

IAF wasn’t just about art—it was about dialogue, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. MoMA, the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the Guggenheim, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Art Foundation, M+, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s were all present, alongside leading institutional curators, collectors, journalists, ambassadors, and cultural agencies from across the world.

At the BMW Lounge, IAF’s founding member Neha Kirpal, alongside Director Jaya Ashokan, addressed an audience of Young Global Leaders from the World Economic Forum. The fair’s ability to convene influential voices from art, politics, and business underscored its significance beyond the creative sector. Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement at BMW India, ensured that discussions on art, design, and technology were held with dili­gence. The JSW Foundation’s presence, with Sangita Jindal, Tarini Handa, and Shwetal Patel (one of the founding member of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale), was highlighted through a moderated session on the Hampi Art Lab Program.

I wish we had more passionate pa­trons of art and culture like Kiran Nadar. A landmark retrospective of Gulammohammed Sheikh at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) was among the fair’s most profound moments. Curated by Roobina Karode, the exhibition provided an academically rigorous exploration of Sheikh’s multi­faceted practice—spanning painting, poetry, and pedagogy—and reaffirmed his status as a humanist visionary.

Meanwhile, Travancore House hosted an outstanding project by Probir Gupta, complementing the presence of architecture, while Shilpa Gupta presented a project of conceptual brilliance at Bikaner House.

THE CITY COMES ALIVE

IAF wasn’t just about viewing art—it was about experiencing it. From performanc­es to pop-up shows, experimental theatre to live music, the fair transformed Delhi into a playground for artistic expression, collaboration, and cultural exchange.

The Asia Society’s ‘Asia Arts Game Changer Awards’ added a further dimension of prestige, recognising the likes of Jayeeta Chatterjee, Karachi LaJamia, Shilpa Gupta, and Anupam Sud. Meanwhile, a multitude of collateral exhibitions at galleries, embassies, and unconventional venues extended the fair’s reach beyond its physical location, activating unfamiliar and unexpected urban spaces.

Beyond aesthetics, IAF was also a significant economic catalyst, energis­ing multiple sectors. The fair attracted an incredible mix of Latin American delegates, European collectors, and new gallerists, all eager to explore India’s thriving contemporary art scene. Galleries and artists found a robust marketplace where sales and collabora­tions flourished, boosting careers and expanding global exposure. From cafés and street vendors to luxury hotels, the influx of visitors—collectors, curators, journalists, and art enthusiasts—fueled a dynamic economic surge. Embassies and cultural organisations curated inde­pendent creative projects, contributing to the broader artistic landscape.

Beyond commerce and creativity, IAF was also a laboratory for ideas. The fair provided a platform for panel discussions, workshops, book launches, and critical conversations featuring leading intel­lectuals like Geeta Kapur and prominent global curators like Naomi Beckwith, Natalie King, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, among others. These dialogues fostered deeper engagement with contemporary artistic and cultural narratives, reinforc­ing IAF’s role as a thought leader in the international art community.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

At the Rotunda open-air theatre, Raw Mango’s curated evening blurred the lines between art, fashion, and per­formance, creating a sensory spectacle that embodied the seamless fusion of traditional Indian aesthetics with contemporary creativity. It was a perfect example of IAF’s ability to bridge mul­tiple disciplines, engaging audiences in an immersive artistic encounter.

More than just an art fair, India Art Fair 2025 was a living, breathing force—where art was not merely exhibited but celebrated, debated, and reimagined. It embraced collectors, institutions, curators, writers, thinkers, and performers—a true convergence of love, ideas, aesthetics, and commerce.

At its heart, IAF proved that contemporary art is not just an elite pursuit—it is a vital, transformative force that shapes how we see the world, engage with history, and envision the future.

Anindita BhattacharyacommercecreativityGulammohammed SheikhimaginationIndia Art Fair 2025Yogesh Barve