India Art Fair: Sixth edition attracts Chinese art enthusiasts

Chinese artists, collectors gallerists and museum officials are set to soak in India's art experience at the sixth edition of the India Art Fair here.
The IAF, which opens to the general public on January 31 showcases 30 international and 47 domestic galleries across 91 booths inside a custom-built tent spanning over 20,000 sq metres at the NSIC Grounds
Hosting 1,000 artists from across the world, the Fair is showcasing art practices including painting, sculptures, digital art, photography installations and performance art.
"We get a lot of response from Europe and the West. So for us it is a deliberate effort to open a new market. This year We are bringing in 20 to 25 collectors and museums from China and it is part of our efforts to draw in more buyers from that country," IAF Director Neha Kirpal told PTI.

With China pegged as the second biggest market in the world, industry experts have pointed to a spike in interest in art traffic from the West to the Asian country.
"Later in the year, we will take Indians there. It is part of an exchange programme. The idea is to begin a dialogue between the two countries. This is a deliberate move to reach out to the east. It is a first effort on our part," Kirpal said.

Wong Shun Kit Director, of the Shaghai Zendai Himalyas Museum said, "It is for the first time I am coming here. I don't have much knowledge of Indian artist but ready to take good Indian work back home and exhibit it in his museum."

Philip Dodd, who has curated exhibitions in London, New York, Moscow and Singapore said, "There is a lot of interest in China about India. Today is the Chinese New Year so we had less people coming. If it had been any other day I would have got some 40 to 50 people."
Chinese-Indonesian art collector Budi Tek is slated to speak at the event.
The Fair has grown over the past years and reported over 400,000 visitors in the past editions.
"We have grown in our role as market builders.In terms of community outreach, visitors engagement and depth of content we are at a whole new level," Neha Kirpal said.

High profile contemporary Indian and international artists are presenting at the Fair.
Among the rich selection on offer, include installation Aura by Subodh Gupta, a video-art project curated by Bhavna Kakar, the sculptural project Agalma by artist Anjana Kothamachu, and artist Riyas Komu's unique project involving the creation of a Collector's Room.
Other projects include L N Tallur's sculpture Path Finder, Anindita Dutta's sculpture based performance work and Chintan Upadhyay's iconic shrine Lost Soul.