An Insider Guide To India's Evolving Art Scene, Curated By Aparajita Jain

Tell us more about contemporary art gallery Nature Morte and your role: 

 

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I bought into Nature Morte in January 2013, and since then have worked across all departments. Peter Nagy (a post-conceptual artist and art gallerist who revived Nature Morte Gallery) and I have a great balance between our roles: he works with exhibitions and the artists, I work with sales and operations. I manage the company and he is the Artistic Director. The company is 28 years old, hence has a legacy and we work with many artists who have played a part of the gallery since its inception. We work closely together to bring in new artists too, and have a joint role in making the decisions. Even if one of us vetoes something, it’s a no.

Tell us about yourself. When and how did your relationship with art begin?
While my background is in psychology with a business-orientated family, my paternal grandfather encouraged my interest in the arts from a very young age. As a child, I was surrounded by very high-thinking, intellectual art; we were encouraged to read poetry, watch the opera and plays – whatever was accessible in Calcutta in my younger years, and in Mumbai – and then of course, while we were travelling.

How did this interest develop into a career in the arts?
After Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008 and the funding in the world had dried up, I was very worried about what younger artists would do. So, I opened my first space called Seven Art, which started as a platform for young, emerging, creative-thinking artists that worked with media in new and experimental ways. Through this I met Peter Nagy, and we started working together. At some point, he asked me to buy into Nature Morte. I agreed, and here we are.

Tell us more about the Saat Saath Arts Foundation. What are your favourite projects to date?

 

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I began the foundation in 2007. It began with a desire to do more within the arts outside “for profit” based institutions. I started it as a vehicle to do more public art. At that time I had a gallery called Seven Art; in Hindi, ‘seven’ means ‘saat’ and ‘saath’ means ‘alongside’ – it was coined by a friend. Our first project was called Art Tiger which was publicly exhibited in Delhi. The proceeds from the sales of these tiger artworks went to the Ranthambore Foundation which was working towards a then dwindling tiger population. Currently, the foundation funds and runs the sculpture park in Jaipur – with the King of Jaipur – and gives a curatorial grant to curators and museum directors to come and research art in India. We’ve organised five editions of the sculpture park at Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur, displaying sculptures and installation pieces around the historic property by Indian and international artists, and now it’s moving to Jaigarh Fort, also in Jaipur. We have had almost 12 curators come to India for the grant, and upwards of 15 shows internationally have emerged from these grants. I see more of my time being spent on my non-profit work in the next decade.

How does India’s art market compare to others around the world?
India’s economy is booming; India is becoming the next country to experience extreme growth in lots of ways. We are our own consumers and we are our own producers; it’s a healthy balance. Our market is young and naive but the largest number of world billionaires are now coming out of India. Wealth has percolated to different people, and hence spending power has increased exponentially. This is having a direct impact.

For you, what’s the relationship like between art and wider culture and society in India?

How have you see the relationship between art and culture change?
The art scene is changing. We are seeing more art fairs, museums, biennales, non-profit initiatives all springing up from different cities across the country, including India Art Fair in New Delhi. I think it’s absolutely fascinating. This allows more people to be involved and the public at large to witness modern art.

Where is India’s creative hub?
I would like to think it’s both New Delhi and Mumbai. Simply because of the wealth in these cities and the focus on urban life. Other places, like Goa, Kochi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Baroda, for example, are picking up, but New Delhi and Mumbai are the hubs.

Your favourite spots for art in New Delhi?
I love KNMA (Kiran Nadar Museum of Art) and NGMA (the National Gallery of Modern Art). There are incredible restaurants here too, two of my favourites are Baoshuan at the Oberoi and Tres at Meherchand Market.

Best spots for art in Mumbai?
JNAF, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum – and many of the independent galleries.