Rosalyn DMello
A decade in Indian art: The 2010s witnessed biennale fever, some commercial gains, and a moral reckoning
On the surface it may seem like artists have never had it any better as in the last decade, considering there are now more residencies than before, more collectors, institutions, funding agents and curators. From a more moral vantage point, however, a case could be construed that points to the hypocrisy of intent behind many of these gestures | #DecadeInReview
A decade in Indian art: 2010s saw rise of private collectors, emergent relationship between between sector and CSR
The emergence of a wealth of private museums as part of the Indian art scene has been the consequence of another trend that has held serious sway over the last decade — foundation-building. Whether such a sizeable swell in institution-building has actually enabled ethical philanthropy, remains debatable.
New exhibition of Ebrahim Alkazi's paintings, archival material explores thespian-poet's multifaceted persona
On the occasion of his 94th birthday, Art Heritage, the art gallery Ebrahim Alkazi co-founded with his wife, is hosting an exhibition featuring work from the three solo shows he had of his paintings between 1948 to 1971. If Ebrahim Alkazi wore many hats, this is partly because he was splendidly qualified to do so, says Ranjit Hoskote, the curator of the exhibition
Indian art world's #MeToo reckoning: Forging an equitable future demands a sisterhood of feminist killjoys
At this crucial moment, sisterhood, through solidarity, is the only ethical force that can truly serve as worthy resistance to the art world’s unchecked oppressiveness.
Indian art world's #MeToo reckoning: Toxic patriarchal conditioning must be dismantled for true change
Patriarchal conditioning runs so deep within the Indian art world’s capitalist subconscious, it seems foundational to its identity. The ensuing void that exists in the place of empathy contributes to the industry’s toxicity.
Kamini Sawhney on Bengaluru's Museum of Art and Photography, and how it aims to foster inclusivity
Bengaluru will play host to the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) by as early as next year, if all goes as per schedule. It appointed Kamini Sawhney as its first museum director. In a conversation with Firstpost, Sawhney talks about the way ahead for MAP, and how it chooses to not just be a repository of objects.
At exhibition celebrating Kala Bhavana, questions about guru-shishya tradition, how we frame legacies
Curated by sculptor and Kala Bhavana alumnus KS Radhakrishnan, the exhibition — titled 'Pillars of an Artscape' — is based on portraying the lineage of contributions made by the seven “pillars” of the institute — Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Benode Behari Mukherjee, Ramkinkar Baij, KG Subramanyan, Somnath Hore, and Sarbari Roy Choudhury.
Artist Mithu Sen on (Un)Mansplaining, her satirical performance piece from the 2019 Venice Biennale
Artist Mithu Sen's (Un)Mansplaining satirises the oppressive gaze and tongue of the male art critic through the triumphant, exultant privileging of female irrepressibility and the reclaiming of feminist agency.
In 'Modern Indian Painting', collectors Jane and Kito de Boer chronicle their encounters with art
Spread across New Delhi, London and Dubai, Jane and Kito de Boer’s collection of modern Indian painting includes at least 1,000 works, making it among the largest of its kind in private hands. A recently released book offers a glimpse into the collector couple’s methodology, passion, and commitment, while simultaneously proposing an art historical understanding of the relevance of their significant collection and contribution.
Art Dubai: Diana Campbell Betancourt's show attests to emergence of South Asian voices in Middle East's art scene
Impressively curated by Diana Campbell Betancourt, fabric(ated) fractures was the consequence of an invitation extended by Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, founder of Alserkal, who perceives it as an attempt to foster “a growing South to South dialogue which draws in the practices of cultural practitioners beyond our own borders, and broadening the context of contemporary global art conversations.”
Writer-musician Amit Chaudhuri forays into art-making with 'The Sweet Shop Owners of Calcutta'
Amit Chaudhuri made his debut as a non-artist artist, with his solo exhibition, The Sweet Shop Owners of Calcutta and Other Ideas, further extending the borders of his comfort zone
Léuli Māzyār Lunaʻi Eshrāghi on indigenous curatorial practices, and the politics of multiple identities
Léuli Māzyār Lunaʻi Eshrāghi on improvising strategies for de-centering and de-colonialising curatorial practices | Experimenter #CuratorsHub 2018
Experimenter Curators' Hub 2018: Prasad Shetty, Rupali Gupte on urbanism, architectural activism and collaboration
Prasad Shetty and Rupali Gupte are architects and artists who prefer to call themselves urbanists. They spoke with Firstpost from the sidelines of the Experimenter Curators' Hub 2018
Experimenter Curators' Hub 2018: Adam Szymczyk on his expansive yet controversial documenta 14 edition
Adam Szymczyk reflected on some of the ideological consequences of his curatorial paradigm while also addressing the rising climate of hostility and xenophobia and its implications on the display of artistic practices
Experimenter Curators' Hub 2018: Shumon Basar on artificial intelligence and the future of art
Shumon Basar, a writer, thinker and cultural critic, has been instrumental in shaping stimulating and provocative conversations around a range of subjects that don’t seem to rest immediately within the purview of art — like artificial intelligence
Experimenter gallery's Priyanka and Prateek Raja on how they put together the prestigious Curators' Hub
Experimenter, a contemporary art gallery responsible for putting the city of Kolkata on the international art map, kicks off the eighth edition of its homegrown Curators' Hub today
Photographer Chandan Gomes on his exhibit People You May Know, built out of archived digital interactions
Through this installation, Chandan Gomes tries to understand the loneliness and ideas of fidelity as they exist in relationships formed in the digital age
David Zwirner director James Green on the gallery's debut at the India Art Fair 2018
The 25-year-old gallery empire, David Zwirner, means business with its decision to participate in the 10th edition of the India Art Fair | #FirstCulture
In Such a Morning, Amar Kanwar addresses violence, oppression through a study of light and darkness
Amar Kanwar's film Such a Morning, which concludes in an exhibition installation, talks about resisting violence by identifying darkness | #FirstCulture
Of feminism, a supportive sisterhood and lifting up other women: Lessons from 2017
Whether it is supporting the enterprise of women, helping out a friend going through a rough time or asserting one's own brand of femininity, feminism must be a lived practice #YearInReview