From Here to Eternity

OVER THE LAST decade and a half, the India Art Fair (IAF) has only become more luminous. Held in early February it is the premier cultural event of Delhi, which brings the most renowned names in art under one umbrella. While biennales have seen a stuttering progress, the IAF has steadily become the country’s most definitive art event. Its sixteenth edition, being presented at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, Delhi from February 6 to 9, is set to be its “most ambitious one yet”, according to Jaya Asokan, director, IAF.

She is not wrong. With a record 120 exhibitors that include top international galleries, as well as leading ones from across the country, museums, not-for-profit organisations, design studios and a host of corporate and creative partners, the fair is certainly attractive on many counts. “It will be a dynamic experience with something for everyone,” says Asokan. Seasoned collectors can find works rarely available in the country, young collectors can explore and build on their preferences, and every visitor can enjoy the thou­sands of artworks on view, as well as a host of talks, performance art pieces, workshops and tours at the fair. “Our effort is always to show the most ambitious and exciting projects that reflect our contemporary lives, with a special empha­sis on emerging artists from under-represented regions and communities,” she adds.

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of this year’s fair is the increased presence of international players, with the inclusion of a few major artists rarely seen in India. These include the likes of cult favourite Yayoi Kusama and mini­malist king Dan Flavin, both represented by Gallery David Zwirner, and maverick Ai Weiwei who returns to the fair with his works being shown by both Galleria Continua and Lisson Gallery.

It is clear that India’s ever-expand­ing art market is now a force to reckon with both for its spending power and its unique perspective. For James Green, Senior Director at David Zwirner, the IAF is a crucial plat­form to provide for dialogue between regional and international collectors, institutions and galleries. He says, “The Indian art market is continuing to grow, and is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic, fast-changing and distinctive ones there is.”

The global slant of this edition of the IAF isn’t limited to the presence of international galleries. An institu­tional collaboration with Sicily-based conceptual artist-duo Claire Fontaine is a noteworthy addition. They build upon their celebrated work Foreigners Everywhere, recently displayed at the Venice Biennale 2024, which is a refer­ence to being an outsider in an unknown territory, as well as the proliferation of migrants crisscrossing the globe. Their work will consist of an LED installa­tion displaying the phrase ‘Foreigners Everywhere’ in different Indian languag­es, and will be on display at venues across the city during the entire week.

“The ambivalence of the sentence ‘Foreigners Everywhere’ reacts with the different contexts where the artworks are placed awakening geopolitical tensions and invisible psychogeographies of a ter­ritory,” say the artists, Fulvia Carnevale and James Thornhill.

Another new entrant is Lagos-based kó gallery, which is making its debut this year as the first gallery to participate at the IAF from Africa. It will include a roster of emerging and established contemporary artists working across textile, painting, sculpture and installation. Bridging the gap between the foreign and indigenous, is first-time participant Unit7. / Prahlad Bubbar. This gallery from London spe­cialises in Classical Indian and Islamic art, alongside 20th-century art, design and photography.

The appreciation for South Asian art and artists throughout the world is further celebrated by showcasing the work of prominent emerging to mid-career artists from India’s neigh­bouring countries, including the likes of Kingsley Gunatillake from Sri Lanka, and Sarker Protick and Ashfika Rahman from Bangladesh.

“The story of modern and contem­porary art often forgets its women pioneers, and we are so happy to see them finally get their flowers now,” adds Asokan, referring to the creation of the fair facade, which has become an institution in itself. Created this year by Ayesha Singh, it honours women patrons of architecture from the past thousand years. Women artists across generations and genres will also be represented by India’s top galleries with names like Dayanita Singh, Bharti Kher, Ketaki Sheth, Nalini Malani, and Shilpa Gupta finding a firm foothold.

FROM THE EMERGING talent show­ing at the fair for the first time, the work of the IAF’s three Artists in Resi­dence stands out. Imon Phukan shows a layered textile work (in partnership with the Royal College of Art), liactuallee cre­ates an intricate crochet work (supported by SoulTree), and Umesh S has a perfor­mative piece inspired by agricultural tools and Bhojpuri poetry.

India’s most renowned galleries take up the mantle of showcasing the best of Indian modern and contemporary art. They include Vadehra Art Gallery, Jhaveri Contemporary and Exhibit 320 to name just a handful. Their thought­fully curated selections are on display both at the fair and in their venues as part of IAF’s parallel programming. Asokan stresses on the importance of this collaboration, saying, “Every year, I and the team love to see our home city of Delhi come alive during India Art Fair week, hosting national and inter­national visitors, dynamic exhibitions, events, and fundraisers, each contribut­ing to a deeper appreciation of India’s artistic and cultural heritage.”

This year’s most prominent parallel events include a landmark retrospec­tive of veteran artist Gulammoham­med Sheikh at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, artist Shilpa Gupta’s solo exhibi­tion at Bikaner House, Khoj International Artists’ Association’s celebration of 20 years of its Peers Residency Programme and more.

An outdoor display of art is a notice­able pattern every year. Among the many large and ambitious ‘Outdoor Art Projects’ are a 42-foot long installation on canvas by veteran artist Manu Parekh, and Make Shift by Asim Waqif, which repurposes a second-hand cement truck from a chassis fabricator and metal scrap collected over the past seven months from Laxcon Steel Limited’s facility in Ahmedabad. “Interpreting the meaning behind it is left to the viewer with these words — What is this monster before you? Explore, but be careful. There are many sharp and rusted edges,” explains the artist.

Moving beyond the traditional definition of art, IAF focuses on other creative disciplines too. Its first ever Design section launched last year sought to highlight India’s rich history of craft by featuring top design studios making collectible, unique and limited-edition pieces. It expands further this year, with a panel on Design, Technology and Craft featuring leading designers and creators. There will also be a special presentation of young Indian designers titled Shifting Horizons curated by Alaiia Gujral.

Attracting the youth is a key aspect of IAF’s overall curation. Their successful ‘Young Collectors’ Programme’ aims to be a bridge for the next generation of art patrons. Asokan points to the spotlight on emerging artists from beyond India’s urban centres, to encourage young col­lectors to engage with fresh voices and perspectives. “We also aim to ensure that every year there is a wide range of exhibi­tors and galleries showing work at more accessible price points,” she says.

Over the 16 years of its existence, the IAF has indeed transformed the Indian art market and defined the role of the new-age patron. Indian artists are gain­ing recognition internationally (visible through exhibitions like the Imaginary Institution of India held in the UK; the inclusion of many South Asian artists in the Venice Biennale) and Indian galleries are prominently featured at important art events around the world. Asokan believes the IAF has been instrumental in this change, “The fair has created the meeting point for many of the initial discoveries and conversations that have now borne fruit. The world is able to dis­cover the breadth and quality of Indian contemporary art here, one of the few venues where this is possible.”

(India Art Fair runs from February 6 to 9 at NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Delhi)

Anish KapoorartistsGulammohammed SheikhHuma BhabhaIndia Art Fair 2025Sudhir Patwardhan