Art at the Olympics

Every October (since 2003),London’s Regent Park hosts one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs — the Frieze Art Fair. In 2009 and 2011,Mumbai’s Project 88 gallery was India’s contribution to the list of galleries that participated at the fair. Earlier this year,the non-profit arm of the art fair,the Frieze Foundation,announced a new project called Frieze Projects East. Although only four art projects have been commissioned for this series,among the artists is Kolkata-born Sarnath Banerjee,represented by Project 88 gallery.

The works that are created by the artists — who,besides Banerjee,are Anthea Hamilton and Nick Byrne,Can Altay and Gary Webb — will be placed in various parts of East London as part of the London 2012 Festival. This festival marks the finale of the Cultural Olympiad,the four-year cycle of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While all the other artists will create sculptures,the now Berlin-based Banerjee — who is known for his bold graphic works — will produce a series of billboard posters and a graphic narrative. Banerjee will produce 48 posters that will depict sports persons who seem poised to lose. “These 48 billboards are about the people who almost made it,” says the 38-year-old.