The New Groupies

While there’s a buzz in the art circuit that this means competition for the Delhi-based India Art Fair (once known as the India Art Summit),the director of India Art Festival,Neha Kirpal,differs. “We don’t see any competition. The Festival has the participation of over 100 galleries,with an equal split between national and international galleries. Hauser and Wirth and White Cube will be participating in 2012. Moreover,we’ll have venue designers from the Frieze Art Fair,” says Kirpal.

She adds,“One is always supportive of collaborative art efforts,like Art Chennai and the Kochi Murzaris Beinnale. When individual cities have their own festivals,I’d like to see the kind of response they get,” she adds.

The galleries,meanwhile,are watching their steps,before announcing their loyalties. Eight major galleries — including Chatterjee and Lal,Gallery Maskara,Chemould,Lakeeren and Project 88 — are supporting the festival by contributing works for the sculpture section,they are not participating in the venture. “It’s a new initiative and can only do good,not harm. However,people should tread with caution while setting up modules,” says Abhay Maskara of Gallery Maskara,pointing out that the venue is a bit uninspiring.

Meanwhile,India Art Fair also plans to launch a Mumbai chapter in 2013. “The country’s art market is not big enough for two art fairs,so we intend to alternate between Mumbai and Delhi,” says Kirpal.

There is more news from the art fair circuit. The Triennial at Delhi has also been postponed from December 2011 to next year. Ashok Vajpai,director of the Lalit Kala Akademi that organises the festival,says its administration “is not prepared”.