Mumbai's season of art

THE ART CLUB

What a spring it's been in Mumbai, with art the main focus this week. Tina Ambani joins hands annually with her curator Vickram Sethi to host the annual Harmony show "" considered lightweight by most "serious" curators, collectors and gallerists.

Now in its tenth year, no other show in India can match the spectacle "" over 200 artists this year and almost 550 works on display "" that puts together names that are familiar as well as those still on the first rung of recognition. Its attempt, Sethi has said constantly, is to bring art to the doorstep of the common man.

But the Delhi Art Gallery's Manifestations III show (also in Mumbai this week; April 22-27 in Delhi) makes no such concessions to debate: the 100 works displayed by Aashish Anand are all part of the high-tide mark of Indian art. Anand, an unknown in the industry till a few years ago, has blasted his way into the popular circuit and can boast of some of the finest art in the country.

These mega shows, now part of the Indian calendar "" the page 3 versions, so to say, of the Osian's and Saffronart auctions "" have begun to generate more interest than a lot of the cognoscenti might have initially thought.

That's partly to do with perseverance, and partly to do with a growing authority with which their promoters host these shows. Over the years, the artists themselves are bringing better works to the Harmony show, and collectors are looking out for younger artists in the affordable segment "" something galleries and exhibitions rarely promote to such hype. And Anand's showings through his Manifestation series is bringing to light the richness of Indian masters (okay, as a concession, he keeps some "younger artists").

In a sense, they're both doing what the galleries of modern art should be showcasing "" familiarising the masses with the concept of contemporary art.

It, of course, also highlights the issue of markets: Mumbai continues to remain the main centre for art sales and appreciation, increasily tailed by Delhi, a second-option for most galleries and artists.

The oblivion of the other cities is only too apparent "" Kolkata has the talent but not the capacity to buy; Bangalore and Chennai are poised forever on the brink of becoming happening; Hyderabad limps behind.

The new opportunity, therefore, is to expand the base of Mumbai into Delhi. Manifestations is already well recieved here, and Osian's and Saffronart have both shown in the city before auctions; it's now time for the big players to shift to Delhi too. Or will it be Harmony that will make the first mega bridge to Delhi? Watch this space. n