There are more than two months to go before the India Art Summit begins in Delhi,but preparations are on across the globe in 17 galleries,from the US and Germany to Dubai,China and Japan. If in Berlin,Alexander Hahn from Aanant & Zoo gallery is hoping that the Indian art connoisseurs will approve of the works of Michael Müller,in London,gallerist Rob Dean is preparing a shortlist of artwork to showcase in India. The aim is to bring the best of world art to India and act as a forum that enables collaboration between Indian and international gallerists and artists, says Neha Kirpal,associate director of the four-day summit that begins on August 19. Kirpal has made frequent overseas tours in the last one year to promote the event and invite international galleries to explore the market in India that until now has been considered partial to domestic art. There was apprehension due to the tense economic situation but there is growing realisation that India holds potential as an important market with reasonable purchasing power, adds Kirpal,pointing out that only three international galleries had stalls at the summit last year. Hans Bakker,director of Rotterdam-based HB Galerie,agrees. The slowdown in the West has prompted him to tap the market in India and participate in the summit with the intention of discussing tie-ups with Indian galleries. During his one-month stay in the country,he intends to visit art galleries and artists studios. We have a severe crisis in Europe and America. India has economic growth, says Bakker. He has never exhibited in India but is hopeful that the work of Iranian artist Ferial Kheradpicheh and Dutch Wietse Eeken will be well received at the summit. There is immense hunger for international art from within India but collectors need to work hard to learn about areas of art that are not Indian,as not many museums and galleries exhibit them, says Rob Dean,director of Rob Dean Art Ltd. While he participated at the summit last year,he has previously organised exhibitions with Mumbai-based Pundole Art Gallery and is in contact with Indian collectors. Jorn Middelborg,managing director of Thavibu Gallery in Bangkok,also has Indian clients from world over,from Hong Kong,Singapore and UK to Delhi,Mumbai,Bangalore and Chennai. He hopes to expand his base through the summit where his 18 sq meter stall would showcase the works of Thai artist Jirapat Tatsanasomboon,Vietnamese lacquer painter Trinh Tuan and Burmese Aung Kyaw Htet. We kept Indian connoisseurs in mind when selecting artwork, notes Middelborg. While he believes that cultural similarities unite the art of the subcontinent,Middelborg notes that the tax laws in India are unfavourable for international gallerists. Dean adds,Import laws and licenses have to become more user friendly for overseas companies to be more active in India. With the art mart hit by the economic slowdown,is this the appropriate time for international gallerists to head to India? The prime challenge is to bring art closer to the public. It takes time to inform the audience, says Hahn. Sunaina Anand,director of Delhi-based Art Alive Gallery,adds,There is rising interest in international art,particularly from young collectors who are frequent travellers. She does not have a formal tie-up with an international gallery but she did host an exhibition of Sakti Burmans work with New Yorks Aicon Gallery in 2008 and has an exhibition of foreign photographers planned in the Capital next year.
