After the searing summer, as Delhi’s art scene slowly regains momentum, the offerings include a dedicated art district in the leafy neighbourhood of Defence Colony, which will soon be home to nearly ten art galleries. Its bylanes are set to buzz with artistic fervour, complementing the bustle generated by the high-end designer stores and gourmet restaurants in the vicinity. The once tranquil enclave — where land was allotted to Indian military officials in the 1950s and ’60s — is now poised to evolve into a vibrant art hub.
Starting mid-September, its storied lanes will come alive with long art-enriched evenings at regular intervals, where visitors can wander from one art gallery to another, encountering both seminal works of Indian art and contemporary creations. On the anvil are curated walks, artist interactions, performances and engaging discussions, among others.
While Photoink and Galleryske — which opened earlier this year — are the newest addition, joining the established presence of Vadehra Art Gallery, Akar Prakar, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke and Method Art Gallery, the months ahead will witness the debut of Gallery XXL, Latitude 28, and a few others.
“Its central location makes it far more accessible,” says Bhavna Kakar, founder-director of Latitude 28, which already has multiple spaces in Lado Sarai, where it first opened in 2010. “At around 2,500 sq ft, the larger venue, designed by Tushant Bansal, will finally enable me to conceive and stage more ambitious exhibitions in the gallery itself,” she adds. The gallery is set to open in October with a multi-artist show, with each creating work in response to the “Dramaturgies of Space”.
At Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, meanwhile, co-founder Ranjana Steinruecke is preparing for a solo exhibition of Abul Hisham that will open on September 5. Established in Mumbai in 2006, it was only last year that Steinruecke decided to extend the gallery’s presence to Delhi; the Defence Colony space was secured by her within weeks of scouting. “I liked it the very first instant,” recalls Steinruecke.
“Over the years, we realised that Delhi has a completely distinct art market from Mumbai. While some collectors do travel between the two cities, many don’t. We wanted to open up this previously untapped territory for our artists, several of whom, such as Aban Raza and Buddhadev Mukherjee, are based in Delhi.”
Another Mumbai gallery to set up in Defence Colony this year is Method. Known for championing young talent and experimental practices, since it launched in January, the Delhi space has hosted not just exhibitions but also several workshops, music performances and coffee-tasting sessions.
The method gallery hosted ‘Thrift for Gaza’, and ‘Readings for Gaza’ in solidarity with Palestinians on August 31. “We want to explore the community aspect in the city, much like the Mumbai gallery ecosystem, where the Mumbai Gallery Association fosters regular dialogue among galleries and initiatives such as Art Night Thursday see galleries coming together for coordinated programming in a collective effort to promote art and culture,” says founder Sahil Arora.
With two spaces in the neighbourhood and the oldest gallery on the block, Roshini Vadehra, director of Vadehra Art Gallery, recalls how when her father Arun Vadehra set up the gallery in 1987, he had already envisioned the potential for the then largely residential colony to evolve into an art district. “In the ’90s, with his encouragement, three friends opened galleries here. Though those no longer exist, his vision is finally coming true,” says Roshini.
She adds, “It’s wonderful to witness how the area has transformed. The growing number of galleries will nurture a gallery-going culture, which is something we have long struggled with, particularly post-Covid, when the audiences got accustomed to viewing art digitally. This renewed momentum might nudge them further to physically engage with art.”
A concentrated gallery district, coupled with coordinated events on the same evening, will make the scene far more dynamic and exciting, especially for younger audiences and those who find the act of visiting art galleries intimidating otherwise, Roshni adds.
'The Parliament Is Now In Session' exhibition underway at Method Art Gallery. (Express Photo) 
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