casket bearer By Tito Stanley SJ; Girjesh Kumar Singh’s latest statusand artist Tito Stanley. Photo Credit: Rosella Stephen
Ten months after Art Mumbai made its debut at Mahalaxmi Race Course – with a unique curation that blended art and the city’s brand of glamor and entertainment – the long-running India Art Fair (IAF) in New Delhi announced That he will go to Maximum City. , too, but in 2025. IAF Contemporary, to be held at Jio World Gardens from November 13-15, will focus on “contemporary art and collectible design”, organizers said.
Expectedly, the buzz around the second edition of Art Mumbai, which concluded on November 17, was laced with discussions about the new addition to the art calendar, and whether it is appropriate to hold two art fairs at the same time. It is stated in The Hindu Patrika,
But recently there has been a development. IAF Director Jaya Ashokan has confirmed that they are canceling the Mumbai fair and will move in a new direction. Edited excerpts from an interview:
Fair Director Jaya Ashokan
Why has IAF Contemporary been cancelled?
What did we announce to do in Mumbai [at the Jio World Garden in November 2025] There is a standard global practice: holding several fairs at the same time. It takes place in March at the Frieze in London, in Hong Kong – about five fairs take place at the same time. We were going for a similar format in India. The idea was to allow collectors visiting the country to access different fairs at the same time.
However, we have now decided to reflect and really rethink what Mumbai needs and what we want to do there. Hence this decision.
What are your further plans for this project?
India Art Fair’s commitment will continue to be at the forefront of prioritizing the needs of the region’s galleries and artists and supporting the growth of the South Asian art ecosystem. We believe the best way to do this is to work on developing meaningful initiatives in collaboration with local cultural institutions to complement existing programming and strengthen the market in Delhi, Mumbai and across India.
What factors made you feel confident about organizing a fair dedicated to contemporary and collectible art, especially given that modern art continues to dominate art markets, fairs and auctions?
There are no boundaries between creative fields, and artists of all types are always interacting to broaden their practices and generate new ideas. The inaugural Collectable Design section at the India Art Fair builds on this same concept, and seeks to open up our definitions of culture and creativity to foster even greater cross-pollination between creative disciplines and enhance our offering to collectors. Is.
Where do you stand, what have been the most positive developments in the Indian art market in the last year?
The Indian art market is set to continue its strong performance in 2024, building on the success of previous years. This year, the market witnessed significant growth, with sales of the top 50 artists reaching ₹301 crore, an increase of 19% from 2023. This growth has fueled a surge in demand for art as an investment, driven by India’s economic strength and rising disposable income among buyers.
Established in 2008, IAF Delhi is at NSIC Ground from February 6-9, 2025.
The author is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai, who writes on culture, lifestyle and technology.
published – November 30, 2024 02:16 PM IST
