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Journalism of Courage
Whose art stock will go up in 2009? We ask some heavyweights from the industry to pick their favourites
Siddhartha Tagore, Editor, Art 038; Deal Magazine on artist Farhad Hussain
While one associates Farhad Hussain with the figurative oeuvre and caricatured protagonists painted on canvas, last February the artist had guests gushing over his sculptures at a solo exhibition in Vadehra, and at the Saffronart auction in June, Farhad Hussain8217;s untitled cloth pasted on board sold for an impressive Rs 2.4 lakh. Known for pictorial and bright depictions, according to Tagore, in times of depression the humourous streak in Hussain8217;s work could help lighten the mood. 8220;He has an ability to make people smile with his work. It is stylistic and technically sound. Now he is doing sculptures too, so that is interesting,8221; says Tagore.
They are the current power couple in Indian art and Bhattacharya feels that Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher will continue to hold the position in the coming year. 8220;They are both intellectual artists with tremendous potential and the international exposure has had an influence on their work. They are on the brink of crossing new territories and are constantly reinventing themselves,8221; notes Bhattacharya. Will the bindi8217;s still be part of Kher8217;s work and utensils find place in Gupta8217;s canvas and installations? Only the year will tell. Meanwhile, also on Bhattacharya8217;s watch out list is Atul Bhalla and Arunkumar HG. While Bhalla impressed the art circuit with photographs and video work in the project titled 8216;Remarking the River8217; at Anant Art Center in Noida in 2007, Arunkumar HG is best known for his neo-pop approach, making use of melamine plates to toys in his work.
Ina Puri, art writer and curator talks about Riyas Komu
He is the thinking artist. If in 2008 Riyas Komu exhibited photographs of the Indian football team, in 2007 he brought to attention problems faced by women in Iran when he took his canvases inspired by the film 8216;The Circle8217; to the Venice Biennale. Puri feels that Komu will continue to draw from his socio-political surroundings. 8220;This is the time for introspection. With the economic meltdown affecting everyone no one is in a mood to entertain romantic notions or fairy tales. Riyas Komu is an artist who has consistently taken issues that matter and concern the current generation and our times,8221; says Puri.
