In the world of the income-deficit museum sector, a private firm holds an exhibition with the core motive of “democratizing art viewing and buying.” The Indian Art Exhibition, a contemporary art fair, was launched in Hyderabad for the first time at Kings Kohinoor (Crown) Convention, near P. V. Narasimha Rao Expressway on June 6, 2024, till June 8, 2024.
Instigated first in 2011, the Indian Art Exhibition has held 25 editions in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. This was the first time when it has been launched in Hyderabad. It featured 30 art galleries showcasing the works of 50 artists; the visitors were introduced to 3500 paintings and sculptures of contemporary art.
The inaugural day started with a sitar performance of the musician Sanjay Ashtaputre with table music of Vijay Panchal. It further had a screening of the film- ‘The Eternal Canvas: A 12,000-Year Journey Through Indian Art.’ Having a good start, the exhibition invited the Minister for Youth Services, Tourism and Culture of Telangana, Jupally Krishna Rao, for the inauguration.
Showcasing the works of some Hyderabad-based artists like Madhu Kuruva, Maredu Ramu, Murali Thigulla, Sarang Jaltare, Moshe Dayan, Kantha Reddy, Saraswati Kavula, Jaya Baheti, and senior artists Laxma Goud, Laxman Aelay, Ramana Reddy, Shankar Pamarthy, Ramesh Gorjala, the exhibition intended to bridge the gap between master artists and the new emerging artists, which is a good endeavor.
The India Art Festival did not have a selection committee to pick the artworks, instead, it made them accessible to every single artist who could afford to pay a sum of 16000 Rupees with GST per meter of the exhibiting space. Though the firm may need this sum of money to maintain an exhibition, it further takes a visitor’s pass for entry. Money, if not being the issue, there is no assurance that the artworks would sell. The application kit of the firm mentions participation charges several times but fails to show the outcome of the charges.
Earlier, an exhibition by the Indian Art Fair in February sold Indian contemporary art for around 300 Crores. Certainly, there is a scope in the Art Market, but what’s the difference between these two exhibitions? The earlier exhibition had a selection committee for the artwork, and it made sure to sell most of the artwork, which this exhibition lacked. Further, there was better marketing by the company, which this firm was devoid of. Nobody covered the news of the exhibition prior to its inauguration.
A few days before, when Ecce homo by Caravaggio came on exhibition, the museum did an inventive interior design correspondence to the artwork so that the visitors gain the maximum experience of it. The exhibition, however, appears to have no better spotlights under each artwork that would entice a buyer. Further, it did not invite art critics or historians who could give constructive criticism to artists, giving exposure through their reviews.
Strangling my opinions for a while, if we look at the pictures across the World’s Galleries, it is their environment and interiors that further solidify the experience of the visitor. As an example, the Museo del Prado changed the look of the space for exhibiting the Ecce homo to create a dramatic experience for viewers. Similarly, in Delhi, the DAG Museum exhibited the Madras Modern collection under fine lighting to allow visitors to see each piece in detail. Hence, the firm could have done better with exhibiting the artwork to sell the pieces.
On a final note, no exhibition is complete without food and drink, similar to what The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been doing for a long time to invite most of the visitors to its exhibits. Though there have been blunders by the firm, in the interest of art, people must visit their next exhibit in New Delhi on Nov. 14-17, 2024 at Constitution Club of India, Rafi Marg to support artists for their excellent work.
Resource.
Featured Image: Girl With Goat Laxma Goud | Source: © MAP Academy, Bengaluru
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