IAF 2015: A million air kisses and some art

If the serpentine queues of German luxury cars and monster trucks disguised as SUVs didn’t give the plot away, boots of every conceivable height, style and texture, fierce leather jackets and en masse couture on parade most definitely did. And no, it wasn’t the millionth fashion week that the capital has become synonymous with but the first day of the India Art Fair 2015, VIP preview. The 3000 or so art works on display did command attention, but the real action, of course, was being played out in the VIP lounge where the permanent residents on page 3 and artists in all their ethnic glory had diligently come to pay homage to this transient four-day pilgrimage dedicated to the art of craft. While wine, both red and white, was free flowing; coffee had to be purchased. But help was at hand with restaurant booths operated by Guppy by Ai and Soda Bottle Openerwala located within the lounge itself. Of course, nothing announces the exclusivity of an event as effectively as over-priced food, flowing alcohol and an ambience awash with expensive perfume and a million air kisses. Mobility partners, BMW, had the soon-to-be-launched i8 on display just outside the lounge area while associate partner Absolut had its own pride of place and stall to boot within the lounge. 

Some highlights

While the sheer scale and enormity of the artworks underlined the diversity of galleries and an interesting mix of media and artists, not all were created equal. Here are some that gave us pause to ponder reflectively into our wine glasses. 

Title: The Art of Papilio Demoleus (or how to become The Lemon Butterfly) by artist Priyanka Choudhary; supported by: Gallery Maskara

The sight of a woman leaning forward and plucking a leaf, from a potted citrus plant, with her lips and subsequently chewing the leaf meditatively is an attention grabber in any scenario. At an art fair, it is a conversation starter. She proceeds to eat the entire plant like a goat as her green dribble paints the front of her white dress. The Lemon Butterfly is also called "The Butterfly of Death". This beautiful insect and its caterpillar is the biggest destroyer of citrus plantations across the world.

If you’ve ever wondered about the creative processes that enjoin an artist’s journey then the Art Fair is a good place to start and more specifically at the untitled artwork by Chitra Ganesh and Dhruvi Acharya (supported by Gallery Espace and Gallery Chemould). Over the four days of the fair, they will create a new collaborative work, a kind of painting-as-performance, to provide visitors a voyeuristic peek into the complexity of a painting’s construction. "The collaborative project that we plan to execute during the art fair is inspired by the physical and psychic transformation of the body as it ages. We will be painting our reflections on encounters with the fragility of life, the inevitable process of aging, illness, and mortality," explained Ganesh.

Title: The Threshold into a Dream by artist TV Santhosh; supported by: The Guild

This represents a tilted version of the Gothic edifice of the Victoria Terminus (now the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), a landmark of Bombay, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The artist’s interpretation immortalises a city that never sleeps embracing people and their myriad dreams. The sculpture had ticking timers that recalled the 26/11 attacks on the station and the city. It wasn’t the cleverest idea but the effective rendition made people stop and stare.

Top points, however, go to the Delhi Art Gallery for curating one of the most visually arresting and comprehensive selections of modern and contemporary Indian art. A history lesson that few could forget in a hurry; each thematic trail is based on a selection of works that typify a period, an artistic movement, or a theme. My favourite: The Bengal School. No prizes for guessing why. 

A fine selection

The IAF courtyard proved to be the biggest draw, especially during the sunny bursts in the afternoon. With food stalls from Brown sugar, Moneky Bar, TLC kitchen and Zambar, variety was aplenty. On the other side of the food-end of courtyard were the Design Store, the Vadehra book store, CMYK and the Art Mall. Shopping and food; Delhi’s twin engagements of pleasure ensured the courtyard was never short of footfalls.