Indian artists not only managed to steer clear the recession storm that hit their counterparts in the US, UK and other countries last year but witnessed increased confidence in Indian art in the global market.
According to Indian Art Market Confidence survey by Art Tactic released in Nov 2009, the 'confidence indicator' for the Indian art market stood at 49, up from 20 in May 2009. Modern Indian art market led the march. The Confidence Indicator in Modern Indian art receiving a healthy 54, signalling a positive sentiment in this sector too.
Contemporary Indian market too emerged out of the gloom, indicating that the worst could be over according to a market research firm. Auctions throughout the year recorded good results for Indian artworks. In December 2009, an untitled canvas by Manjit Bawa sold for Rs 1.7 crore at Saffronart's online auction which created a world record for the late artist.
Sotheby's annual sale of Indian art in London on June 16 achieved Rs 16.33 crore, much above the pre-sale expectations of 1.2 million pound (Rs 9.44 crore) while Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale in London on June 10 saw a 1960 painting by M F Husain fetching a staggering Rs 3.1 crore.
Museums and galleries abroad have been exhibiting more and more of Indian artists.
Inaugurated at the London's Serpentine Gallery on December 10, 2008, "Indian Highway" an exhibition of works by contemporary Indian artists is expected to grow and develop as it tours internationally to different institutions for the next four years.
It was next hosted at Oslo's Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, will continue there till August, before travelling for four years, and will finally culminate in New Delhi in 2012. "The idea is to look at new themes and new art markets like India. About 40 artists from India are included in Oslo," Hanne Beate Ueland of the Astrup Fearnley Musueum said.
"Indian art has been growing in a rather dramatic fashion over the past four to five years and has now steadied. Almost every major museum across the world is planning to showcase works from the country," said Jitish Kallat, whose work is part of Indian Highway exhibition.
Meanwhile in the early 2009, "Chalo! India," the largest exhibition of Indian contemporary art in Japan showed more than 100 works by 27 artists and artist groups from all over India. Encompassing a broad range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography and installation, the exhibition at Mori musuem examined the latest movements in Indian contemporary art.
India was also a big draw at the Spanish international art fair ARCO in February, which put the spotlight on contemporary art from the country. Participating artists, gallery owners and curators exuded optimism about the future of Indian art.
Over 55 artists from 13 galleries across the country participated at the fair where India was the guest country under the Panorama section. Four Indian artists - Anju Dodiya, Nikhil Chopra, Sunil Gawde and Sheela Gowda - were part of the show with 92 other artists curated by Daniel Birnbaum, festival director of the 53rd Venice Biennale in June 2009.
M F Husain and H S Raza came together after a gap of many years to show together at The Kings Road Gallery and Tanya Baxter Contemporary in London. The exhibition will continue till January 31, 2010.
Speaking of Husain, works by the master were excluded at the second edition of the India Art Summit (IAS), the country's very own International art fair in August over concerns of possible vandalism. The Summit saw for the first time, 17 international galleries bringing world renowned works such as Picasso and Salvador Dali for viewing by the Indian audience.
Nearly 250 artworks valued at Rs 26 crore were sold and the total value of artworks on display at the fair was approximately Rs 40-50 crore.
Stefan Wimmer of the German gallery Beck and Eggeling, an exhibitor at IAS said, "The market for art is still strong and not as hyped as a couple of years ago. We are focusing on long term collectors." The gallery is scheduled to exhibit five Indian artists in Germany from February to March 2010.
Mumbai-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor's untitled work fetched a reported sum of over Rs 1 crore.
