India’s premier and pioneering platform for modern and contemporary art, India Art Fair (formerly India Art Summit), will be held in Delhi from January 26 to 29 at the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)  Exhibition Grounds.

Formed in 2008, India Art Fair has attracted more than 1.5 lakh people over its first three editions, making it among the world’s most attended art fairs.

The upcoming fourth edition will feature 91 exhibitors from 20 countries presenting 1,000 of the most exciting modern and contemporary artists across a 12,000 square metre custom built space created for the art fair.

Neha Kirpal, founding director, India Art Fair, says, “The art fair has seen tremendous growth over a short period of time and much of its success can be attributed to its focus on providing a relevant and transparent platform for the Indian art scene. It has received an unprecedented interest from international museums and private collectors and has cultivated a whole breed of new collectors and art enthusiasts within India. This edition has exceptional gallery presentations of both Indian and international art and a wide reaching public programme.”

The exhibition will witness most diverse contingent of galleries seen with participation from Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

At the fair, international galleries will be participating for the first time including Hauser and Wirth (UK/Switzerland), Galleria Continua (Italy) and White Cube (UK). Significant presentations of European modern art will include works of Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Jean Miro and Pablo Picasso.

Among Indian artists, Samar Jodha’s work titled ‘Discord’ will be on public display. Samar uses concrete walls as his canvass to encompass a thoughtful juxtaposition of visuals to narrate stories of common longings, occasional fulfillment and many disappointments within the lesser noticed facets of migration. Samar says, “Born out of a twin concern, that of belonging and abandonment, the project is rooted in the journey that often brought me face to face with people and processes relegated to the outer edges.”

About the commercial aspect of the exhibition, he says, “Everything cannot be and should not be commercialised as that would take away the motive of the art.”
To add to the diverse cultural experience, world renowned contemporary artists including Marina Abramovic, Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum, Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor will be showcased.

The list of new exhibitors will include Arndt (Germany), Everard Read (South Africa), Frida Fine Arts (Russia), Kalfayan Galleries (Greece), and Salwa Zeidan Gallery (UAE).
There will also be a speakers’ forum featuring 54 speakers that will be open for public to encourage wider participation and access.