Thaindian News

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Works of 600 artists, 40 art galleries and scores of admirers — it’s a medley of colours and culture at the India Art Festival 2011 being held here.

Organised with an aim of putting the spotlight on the Mumbai art scene, the four-day event (Nov 17-20) is being held at the Nehru Centre following the success of the three-year-old Indian Art Summit and the India Art Fair in Delhi.

Prashant Kumar, from the organising team, said: “In terms of sales, many galleries and artists have received a good response and that is a good sign.”

Displaying her work alongside names like M.F. Husain and Akbar Padamsee was an elated 39-year-old Aparna Banerjee.

“Being an artist was not a calculated move. It was compulsive. Never understood the undying thirst, my innate desire to splurge in colours,” said Banerjee, who started displaying her works since only a year.

She already has six shows to her credit this year, two of them being international art shows. She is now ready to display her work in a solo show in Delhi early next year.

Apart from the display of artwork, a number of discussions and debates on art and culture have been held on the current art scene in India and the world.

The discussions Saturday varied from ‘The collector’s eye’ and ‘Education in Art’ to ‘Artists and art critics: Open dialogue on art, aesthetics and commerce’.

On Sunday, the first event of the day is a fusion show, followed by a visit to Tao Art Gallery and a conversation with artist Payal Khandwala.

The festival will end with a multi-lingual poetry reading.