‘The Silk Road’: A show of artists from the Asian subcontinent courtesy The Saatchi

For the first time in France, the world-renowned Saatchi Gallery presents a show of artists from the Asian subcontinent in the autumn of 2010.

The London based gallery brings over 60 works from its rich contemporary art collection, which has been specially assembled for the exhibit. Entitled ‘The Silk Road’ (La Route de la Soie), it’s organized by lille3000. Founded by legendary art collector Charles Saatchi, the two and a half decade old Saatchi Gallery now occupies the dazzling Duke of York’s HQ located in Chelsea. At nearly 70,000 square feet, it’s among the world’s biggest totally free entry avenues for contemporary art. It attracts more than one and a quarter million art lovers a year.

By championing the quality work and mostly unseen artists, as well as showcasing rarely exhibited work by several international names, the gallery has compiled a stimulating and up-to-date collection. Its pioneering exhibitions over the last two and a half decades have comprised work by world-famous artists and many new names as well, thus providing a unique springboard for them.

Its new presentation ‘The Silk Road’ refers the ancient trade routes established between Europe and Asia that linked in particular China as well as the Middle East via India as early as from the 2nd century BC. Contemporary works of the three regions arouse growing interest in the art world internationally. In this context, the exhibit offers an extensive overview of the most recent artistic work through sculptures, photographs, installations and paintings by Iranian, Palestinian, Egyptian, Afghan, Chinese, Lebanese, Pakistani and Indian, artists.

‘The Silk Road’ looks to explore an Oriental art, which is resolutely contemporary and serves as the expression of societies undergoing rapid change, caught between an overwhelming modernity and age old cultural traditions. Among the significant works presented in the exhibition, artist Subodh Gupta harks back to the monumental installation ‘God Hungry’. Commissioned by lille3000 and recently purchased by the City of Lille, it’s installed in the church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine.