Tracking Transition in 2015: Coming Attractions

Gallerist Peter Nagy, Nature Morte, says, “A trend that’s blooming internationally and yet to become really big in India is a focus on contemporary art. We’ve seen Modernists too in the recent past, but we should definitely focus on contemporary art next.”

Power Echoes

An opera gala, slated to take place on February 21 at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai, will have leading soloists from around the world. Sopranos and tenors including American artiste Angel Blue, Minsk-born Oksana Volkova (pictured) and New Zealand-born operatic tenor Simon O’Neill (pictured top) will present Carmen, Tosca, Don Giovanni, Turandot and Rigoletto, among others. Organised with the Symphony Orchestra of India, the performances will be conducted by Russian conductor Yuri Simonov.

Canvas Shy

Artist Manu Parekh believes that there’s a certain level of hesitation in the Indian art market, which will hopefully fade away in 2015. “There was a time when people happily bought Husain, and now works by KG Subramanyan and Krishen Khanna are getting a healthy response. But we need more artists putting out more work, and people should also invest in that work,” says Parekh.

Hues Knocking

Fashion designer Namrata Joshipura predicts that the label called Miuniku (pictured left), will make quite the mark in 2015. “They are two sisters Tina, 23, and Nikita Sutradhar, 24, based in London now. They have already made a mark in the international market. Their cuts are clean and contemporary. They were shortlisted for the prestigious LVMH prize as well,” she says.

Now Closer Home

A trend to watch out for will be the advent of neighbourhood places, from eateries to watering holes, meaning you’re not going to have to travel across the city for a bite or a drink. The Deli dining concept will gain impetus, says AD Singh, Managing Director, Olive Group of Restaurants.

The Stage is Set

The makers of NH7 Weekender present Stage 42, a new festival, which will be a mélange of theatre, music and comedy. To be held between February and March, it will have over 150 shows across seven cities including Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Artistes include Russel Peters, All India Bakchod and Kanan Gill.

Toddlers’ Theatre

After its successful debut in Delhi, Bends and Flows (pictured above), a play for toddlers, will be back as part of TIFLI 2015, an arts festival being organised by Assitej India. While Bends and Flows keeps the tots engrossed through a non-verbal performance involving chana or black gram, Italian play Spot uses spots and light, colours and slides to create characters and stories. The third play of the festival is H20, which uses water and its various forms, such as ice, to create a non-verbal, imagery-loaded plot. At National Bal Bhavan, Kotla Road, from February 1 to 6.

City Slick

Fashion designer Gaurav Gupta was on the jury of Elle Graduate, when he came across Delhi-based label called Lovebirds. “Run by Amrita Khanna and Gursi Singh, their work is very refreshing. Even though they didn’t win the prize, they caught my eye. Their clothes are progressive, minimal and intelligent. They are the new global voice from India. In a country obsessed with embroidery and opulent design, what they are doing really stands out. I think we will see more of them in 2015,” he says.

Rushdie Returns

Over six years after his last novel for adults, The Enchantress of Florence, Salman Rushdie is ready with his new one, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights. In October, the author joked on Twitter that the book had been delivered to the publishers, leaving him unemployed. The 250-page book is based on The Arabian Nights.

Ibis Wrap  

Amitav Ghosh will complete his Ibis trilogy with the publishing of Flood of Fire in May next year (John Murray, UK and Penguin India). The book will be a continuation of the first two fictional works, Sea of Poppies (2008) and River of Smoke (2011), that followed the trading of opium between British India and China.

For the People

Artists are already breaking away from gallery spaces, making artworks more accessible to the public. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale being a case in point. Artist Megha Joshi says, “The National Gallery of Modern Art has moved away from the sculpture-painting model and made way for modern art in India, something which has never been done before. First they showcased Anish Kapoor, then Subodh Gupta and now it is Raqs Media Collective.” Artist Chitra Ganesh says that 2015 will see more street-based, comic and collaborative works, along with experimental films and videos.

Art meets Science

The Story of Light (SOL) is going to be one of the biggest events in Goa after the December flurry subsides. Celebrating the meeting of science and art, the not-for-profit public art festival celebrates International Year of Light 2015, declared by the UN. The festival schedule includes interactive installations with light and colour, performances, visual plays, dance, photography workshops and live projections. The event will be held in and around Panjim, Goa, on January 14-18.

Shot Bites

AD Singh, Managing Director, Olive Group of Restaurants, says gastro is going to become a du jour prefix with everything from gastropubs to gastrobars becoming all the rage in the coming year. “In fact, there’s going to be a lot of movement in the food-meets-alcohol sector, wherein there will be a consolidation of the cocktail club culture,” he says.

Shades of Baij

In march, a collective of artistes and scholars including theatre director Anuradha Kapur, installation artist Vivaan Sundaram and academician Rimli Bhattacharya will present their explorations of the life and works of Ramkinkar Baij. The working title of this installation-cum-promenade play-cum-performance is “Ramkinkar Baij: Crucible of Modernity”, to be held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts.

Homegrown

Zorawar Kalra, Founder Managing Director, Massive Restaurants, says the buzzword for 2015 is going to be “sustainable”. Chefs are looking into their own backyards for ingredients ranging from veggies and fruits to meats and dairy. “We’ve tied up with several organic farms in Gurgaon to source daily local fresh produce, which other restaurants across the country are going to be doing as well.”