Termed as a “celebration of modern and contemporary art” the In-dia Art Festival, which debuted here after four editions in Mumbai brought to the city uncanny installations, life size sculptures and p
Termed as a “celebration of modern and contemporary art” the In-dia Art Festival, which debuted here after four editions in Mumbai brought to the city uncanny installations, life size sculptures and paintings in myriad media under one roof.
40 art galleries and more than 300 artists from 15 Indian cities and 5 countries were hosted over the last three days by the event, which sought to facilitate dialogue and collaborations between galleries, independent artists, art collectors and connoisseurs.
Aberrations from conventional forms of art were conspicuous in the very first installation “What is intolerance ” by Orissa-based artist Sudhanshu Sutar right at the entrance of the festival venue of the National Stadium.
Sutar’s installation te-ars through the ongoing debate of what intolerance is and explains India’s most recent di-lemma through the popular crab mentality met-aphor — “if I can’t have it, neither can you”.
The artist filled up a chest with over 150 fibre glass crabs painted with faces of famous Indian personalities — actors, politicians, sportspersons, writers.
Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi has made it to the top of the crab pile leaving behind, Manmo-han Singh, Amitabh Ba-chchan, Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Tendulkar and many others.
The event not only showcased major and mid-level art galleries with innovative artworks, but also offered emerging, independent artists a platform to get discovered while getting an opportunity to interact with the masters.
Festival director Raje-ndra said the festival has attempted to breach the gap between an art market and the gallery system. “We are here to democratise the functioning of the art market and the gallery system,” he said.
