Inspiring installations
The India Art Fair (IAF) offered everything from quirky installations to contemporary statements. And Hussains, Razas, Picassos and Dalis were all under one roof.
Displayed at the Dubai Gallery at IAF, a work by artist Biju Joze titled ‘Agni II’ (made of books) is in a long cylindrical form of a missile scooped out of a tightly packed body of books, the titles selected to satirically approach the subject of war. The artist says, “My work is based on the intermediate-range ballistic missile, designed to carry a payload of nuclear warheads for the Indian nation, and named after the Sanskrit term for one of the elements of nature — fire (agni) which is also a spiritual symbol. The book visible in front reads ‘Don’t Look Down’, an oblique warning to not see the misshapen aftermath of destruction.”
Paying a tribute the capital, veteran Paresh Maity’s trunk-installation “Delhi 7” was a major crowd-puller. The artist says, “Seven principal cities of Delhi were created by different rulers — some of them are no more than villages with splendid ruins and tales of valour, while others have assimilated with the modernistic skyline. The ruins are also a telling tale of the evolution of architectural styles of the times and the synthesis of various cultures and influences. My seven-trunk installation is my tribute to the seven cities of the capital.”
Renowned female contemporary artist from Sri Lanka Anolie Perera’s, “Memory Keeper, Blue Cupboard” is about the artist’s memories of growing up in Sri Lanka during British colonialism and the Sri Lanka civil war. She says,“I live amidst the comforts of memories encapsulated within a cup, a plate, a dainty flowered casserole; ordinary paraphernalia in which numerous ordinary meals have been cooked and served by many hands over generations.”
The art fair also featured some young and emerging talent. Hardik Dikshit, Prajjwal Choudhary and Akash Choyal displayed interesting installations at the fair. With over 105 galleries participating, this burst of art had something to offer everyone.
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