Analyzing the increasing presence of Indian art on global canvas

A new generation of talented artists that is meticulously mapping these tumultuous transformation in their unique visual idiom are chiefly responsible for India’s artistic emergence.

Urbanization and migration create a major impact, leaving behind distinct class demarcations; geographical boundaries are being re-set and maps are getting re-drawn; urban centers are growing by leaps and bounds, whereas the separation between city, state and country has gradually blurred, generating visible fault lines.

Concepts of life and existence continually shift for many people, and their living conditions change rapidly. In this context, today’s consumerist society and a fast-expanding global market are often the focus of these socially sensitive artists’ work. It traces the myriad possibilities, tackles the complex challenges, and grasps the inherent risks involved in a new world order in which every event has multiple shades. Indian mythology and history are also the point of departure in many of them.

During the recent years, several contemporary Indian artists have received increasing appreciation globally. Through diverse forms of expression and perspectives they pose questions about what it means to live in present-day India - a country whose socio-economic growth and cultural development have been accompanied by tumultuous social changes. Many prestigious international fairs such as Art Basel and the Venice Biennale are featuring leading Indian galleries, recognizing the country’ artistic emergence.

To sum up, India’s fast flourishing contemporary art scene coupled with the recent economic upheavals have prompted critical questions related to culture and social structure in a nation caught between a dependence on global developments and an independent mindset.

Today’s generation of dynamic and socially aware artists demonstrates, on the one hand, a constantly changing cultural feedback related to their very roots; on the other hand they are very much interested in exploring new global visual idioms.

No surprise, the increasing presence of Indian art internationally can be attributed to their works that respond to the country’s dramatic socio-political, economic transformation and its implications.