India Art Festival’s third edition in Bengaluru is all for democratising art

Ahead of the festival, Patil speaks to South First about the art scene in South India, art beyond elitist engagement, and how art can transform communities.

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What to expect

“This year, we are introducing the fusion of music and visual art. The medium of visual art when combined with art will give a different experience compared to cinema. This fusion show will be held on all four days. Two artists will be doing live painting with live music. This was part of the fest in Mumbai and New Delhi from the beginning. But, we are introducing it in Bengaluru for the first time. Besides this, through our Indian Contemporary Art Journal, we have produced a film — An Eternal Canvas: 12,000-year journey through Indian Art. This is a 70-minute cinematic exploration that will also be played on all days of the festival, shares Patil.

The India Art Festival has been a consistent platform for both emerging talents and established artists. (Supplied)

Over the last thirteen years, the India Art Festival has been a consistent platform for both emerging talents and established artists, striving to provide an open atmosphere for contemporary art. This year, the festival hopes to strike a balance between appealing to seasoned art enthusiasts and actively engaging with a younger generation of tech-savvy art buyers.

Compared to last year’s footfall of 20,000, Patil is hopeful to see a larger crowd this year.

With a staggering 3500 pieces of art on display at the Palace Ground, the fest expects to grab the attention of seasoned art collectors and new buyers alike.

This year, the selection includes oil paintings, acrylics, watercolours, original prints, installations, and drawings in myriad styles. Besides, landscapes, figurative works, abstracts, cityscapes, seascapes, urban and rural scenarios, portraits, nudes, religious art, etc. will also be on exhibit.

Also Read: Divine is in the details of miniature paintings for this Kozhikode artist

Bengaluru’s growing art market

Art markets and art fairs are receiving a lot of attention, says Patil. Indian art is setting new records, he adds while mentioning the recent sales.
“Amrita Sher-Gil’s painting became the most expensive work of Indian art ever sold in September. This was preceded by Sayed Haider Raza’s artwork which became the highest-selling Indian painting of all time,” he shares.

It took the India Art Festival five years to get this level of popularity in Mumbai, but in Bengaluru, that reach of success has been visible in three years, reports Patil.

“Bengaluru’s growth in terms of art fair and art market has been phenomenal,” he points out.

The growth of art market

The entire art community is inter-connected, says Patil. The Kochi Biennale, he offers, has been a catalyst for taking art wide and far.

Indian art and artists are now on an international platform. (Supplied)

“Kochi is an international art city. The Biennale brings artists from different countries. Art fairs and Biennale have different formats. In the former, artists participate of their own volition. In the case of the latter, all the artists are invited,” he points out.

Chitra Santhe, which is conducted at the Chitrakala Parishath, on the first Sunday of every January, plays a vital role in bringing the masses to the visual art, according to Patil.

“About 2-3 lakh people visit in a single day, which takes the art market to a different level. Approximately 1500 artists participate, and 1 lakh paintings are displayed over a 2-km road, starting from Shivanand Circle,” he says.

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Art for the elite

Patil has been witness to the anthropomorphism of art.

“The number of artists and galleries are also more. Indian art and artists are now on an international platform. The buyer community may not be big, but in the metros, we see a lot of art lovers. They may not be able to buy art but they love art. And they like to visit galleries. So, we are developing a museum-going and gallery-going culture now,” Patil explains.

Art is difficult to perceive for the common man, he agrees. Unlike how we perceive music or cinema or drama, theatre.

“Art has its own vocabulary. Common people may not be aware of it. For instance, when a singer like Shankar Mahadevan takes an aalap in a song, it is melodious to our ears. In art, too, there is a parallel where visual poetry exists in lines, colours, and forms, but without tangible music. This is also music, but it takes time to understand that this is music,” he quips.

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Shout out to local participation

Participating art galleries include Akanksha Art Gallery, Charvi Art Gallery, Shiny Colours Art Gallery, H Art Gallery, SM Art Gallery, and Sara Arakkal Gallerie (all Bengaluru) among others.

This year, the festival also introduces the Artists’ Pavilion, featuring individual booths by independent artists designed to foster a dialogue between viewers and artists.

This multi-level engagement, Patil says, encourages a direct connection between the art market and artists, facilitating open discussions and the purchase of artwork on an open platform.

He also emphasises the festival’s commitment to democratising ‘art viewing and buying,’ a movement that has spread across Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru.

In that spirit, he signs off, saying, “Any common person who wants to buy art, buy what appeals to you. You have to live with that art and enjoy it every day.”

Where: King’s Court, Palace Ground, Gate No 5, Bellary Road, Near Mekhri Circle, Bangalore

When: 14-17 December, 2023

Time: 11 am to 8 pm on all days

Tickets are priced at ₹299, & available on BookMyShow.com & at the venue

For further details, contact 9820737692