Galleria Continua to bring a dramatic fusion of western and South Asian art at IAF 2023

The world is no stranger to the cultural and artistic richness that South Asia cradles—an abundance that percolates into the countries’ art and design milieu. Years of evolution, interpretations and reinterpretations of the same concepts, and impending contemporisation have served as collective reconcilers between deemed antipodes—east and west, craft and technology, young and old, and so on. The much-anticipated annual gala India Art Fair is just around the corner, with a stellar lineup of showcases of modern and contemporary art that represent this refreshingly blended tapestry. Set to take place from February 9 to February 12, 2023, at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi, the art fair will unfold in partnership with BMW and present 85 exhibitors, including 71 galleries and 14 institutions. With the success of the previous edition as a springboard, the 2023 fair aims to be the most ambitious one yet, with expanded floorspace to showcase South Asia’s notable talent—an imminent confluence of collectors, curators and art professionals, buttressing cultural dialogue and relationships with the international art scene. “The scale and diversity of the fair in 2023 reflect the expansion of the contemporary and modern art market across India and South Asia, as well as burgeoning interest from the international community,” says Jaya Asokan, Fair Director, India Art Fair.

Amidst a myriad of enticing initiatives, the India Art Fair 2023 will include some of the most important contemporary art galleries from India and overseas, presenting established names and emerging young talents. Hailing from Beijing, China, one such international gallery is Galleria Continua. The art gallery which also finds space in Rome, São Paulo, Paris and Dubai, will set up camp in booth E3 during the art festival and present works by contemporary artists such as Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, JR and Osvaldo González.

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is known around the world for his artistic rebellion—a crusade for freedom of expression and human rights fuelled by a deep sense of belonging to his country and an equally strong desire to rebel. The artwork that will grace Galleria Continua’s showcase is the artist’s self-portrait in glass: Brainless Figure in Glass. Diverging from a traditional sculpture, it is the culmination of an intricate procedure which combines modern technology and manual sculpting. The process began with digitally scanning the artist and creating a mould based on the digital data—ensuring quality and accuracy in all the details. The artwork was then cast by directing molten glass into the mould and allowing it to solidify.

Anish Kapoor is deemed one of the most seminal artists of contemporary times. The sculptor, specialising in installation art and conceptual art, has works permanently exhibited in some of the most important museums around the world. His artwork, dubbed Garnet to Apple Red mix 2 to Pagan Gold/Spanish Gold, defines Kapoor’s shift from dabbling with pigment and stone to mirrored surfaces. He unveils works that delve into colour, depth, tone, transparency and opacity. Disks in different chromatic variations from dark to light and of illusively unlimited depth, emulate an infinite void that when combined with a reflective surface brings all of the surrounding space into the work’s landscape. On this threshold of involvement and participation, the boundary between subject and object is blurred. This precarious existence of the object is emblematic of a large part of the artist’s research.

The uninhibited expression of French artist JR also finds a spot in the presentation. Adorning public spaces such as the sides of buildings, bridges, rooftops and even trains, JR’s art engages audiences where they least expect it—asking questions and opening a conversation between people. The gallery, during the art event will house Ballet, Palais Royal, Paris, France, 2020, the artist’s creative migration to ballet. Hailing from Havana, Cuba, Osvaldo González’s immersive installations make for a great addition to the artistic ensemble. Taking cues from the artist’s personal life—domestic, family, work and emotional environments—his work titled Serie La brecha: Casa #602, Vill’ Alcina, although focused on interior spaces, establishes a connection to the landscape.

Alejandro Campins' paintings explore the idea of landscape in relation to architecture, while Loris Cecchini, an Italian artist based in Milan, will present vibrant and monochromatic surfaces that exemplify the erosive effect of air and water on a variety of natural surfaces. Live art, drawing, photography, sculptural art and installation interweave in Inside Out, a site-specific performance conceived by Nikhil Chopra. Continuing to engage with the power of social and psychological borders on public life, Indian artist Shilpa Gupta will present an intriguing sculptural object made out of security belts and Cuban artist Michelangelo Pistoletto’s work dubbed Colour and Light will employ mirrors to constitute an image of the world, both of humans and society, and of cosmic space. Multidisciplinary artist Kiki Smith whose oeuvre includes sculpture, printmaking, photography, drawing and textiles will also complement the troupe with her creations, along with José Eduardo Yaque Llorente who will present Ultramarino III, a painting that stems from the concepts of origin, creation, and becoming.

India Art Fair approaches with unprecedented vigour and burgeoning creativity, focusing the spotlight on the present and the future of the South Asian art scene. Galleria Continua, founded in 1990 by Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi and Maurizio Rigillo, with the aspiration to give continuity to contemporary art in a landscape brimming with ancient art, flies down to New Delhi, India, to reiterate the same tenets. With a roster of eye-catching and inspiring works by established and young international artists, the gallery gives prominence to contemporary Western artists in areas where they are still little seen.

India Art Fair 2023 will be open to the public from February 9 to February 12, 2023, at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi, India.