The Art Affair

India Art Fair returned to Delhi for its 16th edition, bringing fresh perspectives to the artistic landscape of the country

- NIKITA SAWANT

With a record 120 exhibitors, including 26 first-time participants, India Art Fair 2025 was a balance of established, emerging, and experimental presentations. We spoke to fair director Jaya Asokan, who shared that a major focus this year was on supporting cross-disciplinary practices, which highlighted artists pushing the boundaries of form, materiality, and meaning.

GRAZIA: What did the curatorial process look like for India Art Fair 2025?

JAYA ASOKAN: Since its inception, India Art Fair has been deeply invested in strengthening the South Asian art ecosystem. This year, we presented the works of South Asian modernists such as Ram Kumar, S.H. Raza, and Bikash Bhattacharjee along with contemporary superstars like Mithu Sen, Jitish Kallat, and Tayeba Begum Lipi. The Design section doubled in scale, and beyond the galleries, the performance art programme, outdoor installations, and city-wide activations reinforced the fair’s curatorial ambition. The fair’s partnerships with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Hampi Art Labs/ JSW, and Khoj International Artists’ Association ensured that the experience extended beyond the fairgrounds.

G: Out of all the phenomenal exhibitions, were there any that stood out?

JA: One of the standout elements this year was the ‘Growing Focus’ talks series, curated by Shaleen Wadhwana. The Performance Art Programme introduced some of the most compelling voices in performance, including Umesh S., whose work investigates the agrarian crisis through the revival of agricultural tools, while Priyakshi Agarwal’s textile-based performance explored the intersection of gender, labour, and material histories.

G: Were there any programmes that you personally found exciting?