THE BIG PICTURE

As the country gears up to flex its art muscle at Art Mumbai. 2023 this month, two participating artists let us in on their critical engagement with their own work, and the broader world of art

- NIDA NAEEM

"When it comes to something as massive as trying to combat propaganda or creating dissent under authoritarian regimes, every person plays a different role. I would like to believe that each avenue has its impact, be it documenting or archiving or actively participating. In the case of commercial art spaces, it is imperative that they contribute by actively creating a space for opposition. This can be done in different ways it can be in giving space or in assisting resistance by hiring or supporting artists with voices, or by creating shows that actively contribute to the dissonance," says multimedia artist Rah Naqvi.

Their first solo show, 'how many songs from a single note?', opened at TARQ, Mumbai, last October, and utilised video installation, tapestry, drawings, paintings, and sculptures to highlight the significance of found family within the trans-queer existence during times of increased identity-based violence. This year, they will be exhibiting their work at Art Mumbai 2023, a first-of-its-kind art fair at Mahalaxmi Racecourse from November 16 to 19.

As Mumbai becomes the locus for an ever-expanding roster of galleries, artists, curators and collectors, cultural tastemakers have turned their gaze towards the city to champion exciting new voices. The plethora of gallery activities and exhibitions as well as public events that we witnessed over the past few years have brought artists from all over India and beyond under fresh formats and made art accessible to a range of audiences.

Art Mumbai 2023 is set to make the most of this fertile creative landscape, and has been conceptualised by Minal and Dinesh Vazirani, co-founders of auction house Saffronart, Nakul Dev Chawla, founder of Global Art Hub, and Conor Macklin, director of Grosvenor Gallery in London. The programming will include a whopping 53 galleries from across India and overseas exhibiting modern and contemporary Indian and South Asian Art.