Editorial

Strangely gentle thunder storms and rain mark the middle of spring and freshly sluiced yellow blossoms adorn the roadsides in Delhi. Optimism rules the roost. Catching up with the art market once again Manoj Nair brings forth the facts and figures to show how art is emerging as a new asset class while Christie’s International, the largest auction house declared a 16 percent rise in sales of art and collectibles last year witnessing a boom in purchases of contemporary works and demand from Asia with 30 percent new buyers and a rise in demand and mainly from India & China. Uma Nair explores the legendary artist Amrita Sher-Gil’ s exhibition at NGMA with support from Yashodhara Dalmia marking the birth centenary celebrations of the eminent artist, sometimes also remembered as India’s Frida Kahlo. Sher-Gil’s art has influenced generations of Indian artists and her depiction of the plight of women has made her art a inspiration for women at large both in India and abroad. In 2006, her painting Village Scene sold for 6.9 crores at an auction in New Delhi which was at the time the highest amount ever paid for a painting in India making her the ‘most expensive’ woman painter of India. Sandhya Bordewekar explores the energy of M F Husain’s works through his more accessible personally signed serigraph scrolls, these prints are usually available for two per cent or less than what a single painting of the same size by the same artist would cost. Thus, making otherwise exclusive art available to those who really appreciate it, but lack the means to purchase it in its original form. Shubhalakshmi Shukla talks about Vivek Sonawane who uses brick as a symbol of not the inherent stability of the material but to suggest what is hidden by the wall. Torsten Jurell, the ontemporay sculptor, painter and printmaker talks about Xiao Xue who is different in her thoughts and how she is not about to adapt to the demands of the art world; and her “work that is unique not in terms of the technique but in terms of her sensitivity towards her passion, her art”. With this issue we hope to reaffirm the faith of our readers back in the value of art through profound facts as the financial year in art closes on a positive note worldwide with India as no exception… We earnestly hope our readers enjoy this issue and send us their precious feedback.

Siddhartha Tagore