It’s not raining art exhibitions in the city. The most distinguished artists seem to be on a vacation away from the Capital, promising to be back sometime around mid-July. But till then the visual art admirers will have to look at other avenues for recreation and rejuvenation. With the Capital having its own calendar, it follows a cultural season which stretches from September to March. In And after March as the big artists spend time ideating, working in studios and travelling, it provides an opportunity for group shows for artists who do not get solo exhibitions.
Kamini Chowdhry, a 25-year-old aspiring artist concurs. “If you exhibit in summers, you will get some art school students and your own acquaintances only as the footfall. So, I think it’s better not to showcase your work in these months,” she says.
Paramjeet Singh, Chairman of All India Fine Arts and Craft Society, agrees with Kamini to an extent but has some stern comments to make regarding the art scene in general. “Every season is an off season for arts in India. Delhi has now become hostile towards art. Even young artists do not prefer this time, as they also want some admiration for their piece of work. We give the platform to upcoming artists, where they can paint and do their work, which would further be displayed in the exhibitions.”
Triveni Art Gallery, a privately owned art gallery on Tansen Marg, remains closed in the month of June but gallerist Manisha Khurana, says it is only for the maintenance purpose. She adds, “This is not about season or weather but the art itself. This is art that speaks. If you are a good artist you will get audience in any month.”
Soumen Bhowmick, an artist from Bengal, feels that if one is well-known and backed by effective PR, visitors are guaranteed in any season. “Nowadays, art speaks for those people who are already famous. If you are M. F. Husain or the like, you will get the audience even in the rainy season, if you choose that time. It’s the public relation strategy that is playing the whole game. ”
Lalit Kala Akademi’s — country’s premier body for promotion of visual arts — gallery remains booked for the entire year. “We issue applications for the year in the months of March and April and generally get above 500 applications. We have a jury that scrutinises the applications and provides the slot to the chosen ones,” says Gayatri Tandon, programme officer of the gallery.
Like other galleries in the city LKA also goes for group and sponsored shows in this period. “We recentlye had a group show of Amita Prithviwasi on June 8 and we are having another one of Archana Singh. There is also a sponsored show of The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. along with Archana’s,” she informs. Gallery Espace in New Friends Colony, is also having a group show of noted artists like Zarina Hashmi, Nilima Sheikh, Manjunath Kamath. Some galleries also make do with extending the ongoing shows rather than putting together fresh show.
