India Art Fair (IAF) one of the youngest art fairs globally, has in its current 8th edition put the focus on art and artists from South Asia notably Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka besides India.
"The IAF is renewing its synergy at the international forum and consolidating itself as a definitive reference point for South Asia," Zain Masud, International Director, IAF said.
The directorial position is among several new initiatives of the fair, where an estimated 100,000 visitors attend over a period of four days with a VIP preview today. Entry tickets to the event, which opens to the public tommorow, are priced at Rs 499 each with discounts being offered for students.
Masud who worked previously for five years as assistant fair director of Art Dubai says her role is to help develop access withing the South Asia region and bring in more people to visit India.
"Those who are visiting India for the first time we hope to provide a one stop shop at the IAF and enable them to navigate a place so diverse," she said.
According to Neha Kirpal, Founder Director IAF, "The Fair is the 5th most attended fair in world. 100,000 people attend over four days."
About 70 new galleries from across the world with 18 of them first timers are participating in the mega annual event.
A new programme 'Platform' represents young emerging artists, key art-spaces and collectives. Participants include Blueprint 12 (India) Nepal Art Council (Nepal), Theertha Artists Collective (Sri Lanka), Taser Art Gallery (Pakistan) and Swaraj Art Archive (India).
For the first time the IAF is showcasing 'Moving Image Art' focussing on film as art where cutting edge film and video art curated by Shai Heredia, Director of Experimenta, India's international festival for moving image art.
Official partner BMW has moved into a three year agreement with the IAF, which has also tied up with DLF for a two month public initiative of engagement with art.
Stating that the Fair bringing not just high flying artists but also new artists to a global platform, Philipp von Sahr, Head, BMW India said, "The IAF has a light house effect for contemporary art." This year's IAF features a car designed by Cesar Manrique.
The international auto giant has been a patron for art for nearly 40 years with their association starting in 1976 In 2007, the BMW Art Car Project brought to Mumbai's Jehangir Art Gallery two cars painted by the iconic Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein for an exhibition.
A number of international and national museums and
foundations are presenting programmes or collaborations specially commissioned for the fair. Participants include the Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and the Korean Cultural Centre of India.
According to Masud in contemporary art there is an ongoing shift in interest and power from the West to the East.
"Since the 1990s, Asian contemporary art has grown exponentially due to regional biennials and triennials, the building of new art museums, international recognition and success of Asian artists and of course global political and economic shifts," Masud said.
One of the annual highlights at the IAF is the Speakers Forum which this edition features among other experts Stuart Comer from the Museum of Modern Art New York, Osman Waheed, Founder, Chair, Lahore Biennale Foundation, Dina Bangel, Nepal Arts Council and Sudarshan Shetty, artist and curator Kochi Muziris Biennale.
Sessions by high profile collectors such as Tariq al Jaidah, Haro Cumbusyan and Lu Xun are also included.
Architectural firm Morphogenesis has collaborated with IAF to create a new space 'Projects' where works by 14 individual artists-- Ram Rahman, Joel Andrianomearisoa., Krishna Reddy, Wim Delvoye, Julian Segard and Sakshi Gupta among others will be showcased.
A Spotlight Series hosts performances, book launches and talks.
