Inside Out

What was Shanti’s first real art buy?
"It was in the late ’70s, at some charity event. It was a beautiful piece of work by B Vittal."

And who are her personal favouriteartists?
"Anjolie Ela Menon, Paresh Maity, who I believe is going to be the future of Indian art, Gurcharan Singh and Laxman Shreshtha."

What about sculptures?
"We will be selling them too. I do feel that at the moment, sculptures are not doing too well, but that will change."

And what happens to her involvement with the fashion industry?
"I was never a great fashion person, I just did all the production work for shows. My daughter Sangeeta is really the talented one, and she is very busy with her designing and with her choreography. And fashion is a part of art. I feel dance, music and fashion are all art forms. I would even call flower arranging an art. Anything to with form is a fine art in my book."

And does she feel that everyone should own a piece of art?
"Yes, every house should have at least one piece of art and if you can afford it, then one piece by a better-known artist. But art does not have to be expensive and at my gallery we will be selling lots ofaffordable works too."

And if she could change just one thing in the world of art what would she alter?
"I think art should be concentrated in one area, so people who want art know exactly where to go. This area is becoming quite the happening art area with Jehangir at Kala Ghoda, and in Colaba, Gallery Seven, Son-et-Lumiere and now, us."

–SUJATA ASSOMULL