Indian Art in London: Contemporary Indian art in London

“Indian Art in London is at a critical Juncture…Soaring saleroom prices, frantic buying (and selling)…have made it a veritable hothouse. As debates rage on, practicing artists in India are engaged in creating some of the most exciting and challenging work worldwide. New art from India is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves” Amrita Jhaveri.

India’s present boom economy is just one period in its rich and varied history. Indian art has been collected and appreciated in this country since Britain first started trading with India in the late Renaissance. London has emerged as an important centre, almost occupying the central place like that of a hub, for all things related to Indian art, contemporary and classics.

In the past few years, a few galleries from India have opened up their London studios, and the number of India focussed exhibitions showcased by the western galleries has grown multifold. Indian Art in London and also Islamic Art in London have received a lot of attention.

Works by modern masters such as S.H. Raza, Anjolie Ela Menon, Ganesh Haloi, Sakti Burman, T. Vaikuntam, Shyamal Dutta Ray and Rameshwar Broota along with other famous artists like S. Dhanapal, R.B. Bhaskaran, Achuthan Kudallur, M. Senathipathi, G. Raman, Rekha Rao, Asma Menon, C.F. John, A. Selveraj, P. Jayakani, M. Siva and S.V. Prabhuram, Francis Newton Souza have been exhibited in London in the last two years (this piece was written in March 2007). New waves to hit London include work/exhibits by Subodh Gupta , Atul Dodiya, Mithu Sen and Sudarshan Setty.

Contemporary artists including Chittrovanu Mazumdar, Shibu Natesan, Baiju Parthan, TV Santosh, Bose Krishnamachari, Anandajit Ray, Riyas Komu, Anant Joshi, GR Iranna, Harsha Vardhana and Rathin Kanji have also been exhibited in recent times in London. Many of these artists fall into a self-named group of artists called the Bombay Boys - all Keralites of roughly the same age who now live and work in Bombay.