 "Kochi-Muziris Biennale")
As 2016 slips into 2017, it is with a sense of ennui. Will the new year bring anything that is different? Has the collectorati been impacted by demonetisation? Prophesying anything at this point is a little like gazing into a dodgy crystal ball, but here are some pick-me-ups one can expect from 2017.
January: While the government pumps more currency into the system, it might be a good thing to flee from the ATM queues to the Shanghai Biennale that opened in November and is scheduled to close in March. Supported by the government, the biennale has been curated by our own Raqs Media Collective, and several of the projects have been described as breathtaking. A trip to Art Stage Singapore might be worth the while.
February: Set aside the first week for the ninth edition of India Art Fair, now under the aegis of Art Basel’s MCH group. There is no doubt the fair improves the market mood annually. Besides, as economists say, people like to spend in times of depression to buoy their spirits. In which case it is, of course, wonderfully positioned.
March: If you haven’t made it to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (pictured), it ends this month on the 19th, so you’d better hurry with your travel plans. It’s likely to be a busy month for art globetrotters what with Art Dubai in the neighbourhood, The Armory Show in the Big Apple with the grungiest, trendiest art in NY. And if you’re an eclectic collector with an interest in anything from tribal carpets to Egyptian funerary statuary, Maastricht in the Netherlands is your ticket to some of the world’s most exquisite collectibles.
April: The 14th edition of Documenta opens this month, but not in Kassel (where it will debut in June) but for the first time at an alternate location, Greece. It is probably the world’s most intense intellectual art platform, and has Indian co-curator Natasha Ginwala on the rolls.
May: The start of the summer vacations should take you to Venice for its Biennale (till September), intended to be a little less controversial this year with its move to bring artists back into the spotlight. And the Frieze Art Fair runs this month in New York.
June: It’s debut time for Documenta, Kassel (Germany), but the cognoscenti will be seen private jetting to Basel, Switzerland, for its annual Art Basel outing, among the most highly regarded for its curation of art, galleries, artists and activities.
July: Masterpiece London begins towards the end of June and runs through most of the first week of July. Beautifully located, and consisting of some of the rarest treasures on Planet Earth, this is a beautiful reason to combine it with a holiday to Ol’ Blighty.
August: For a break from art, why not try the Edinburgh International Festival with its eclectic but exhilarating collection of music, theatre, opera and dance? And if you aren’t suffering art fatigue, there’s also the Seattle Art Fair in its first week.
September: Heard about the Rotterdam International Art Fair? Nope, neither have I — and oops!, it’s in 2018 anyway.
October: The Frieze Art Fair in London’s Regent’s Park has always been a beacon with its emphasis on contemporary galleries and a sculpture park.
November: A choice of three exotic destinations and fairs should keep you busy — Contemporary Istanbul (Turkey), Art Taipei (Taiwan), and Abu Dhabi Art (UAE).
December: Now that Sunil Munjal has upheld his commitment to host the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, I’ll have to commend it to those who missed it this year. India’s only composite celebration of music, dance and theatre productions, it also features art.
Kishore Singh is a Delhi-based writer and art critic. These views are personal and do not reflect those of the organisation with which he is associated
