INDIA'S MODERN MASTERS

THE NEW GUARD OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS IS CHANGING THE ARTSCAPE AROUND THE GLOBE. HISTORIAN AND ART CRITIC AMIN JAFFER GIVES HELLO! HIS TOP PICKS OF WHO HE THINKS RULE THE PROVERBIAL ROOST IN THE WORLD OF ART

- VISHWAVEER SINGH

The Progressives defined art in India for several decades. Their paintings hung in the homes and offices of the country’s cultural cognoscenti and soon found themselves in museums and auction houses around the world. MF Husain, FN Souza, SH Raza, Tyeb Mehta and VS Gaitonde… The names are enough to immediately evoke a deep sense of pride and bring to mind flashes of genius and some of the most celebrated canvases to come out of India.

As the world evolves, so does its art. And with that in mind, a new group of masters have emerged from the subcontinent. We spoke to art historian and former Christie’s honcho Amin Jaffer to come up with this stellar list of India’s new elite. The Modern Masters, as we call them, these men and women today redefine Indian art and pave a way for themselves globally like others of their ilk have never done before.

ANISH KAPOOR

Anish Kapoor is one of the most renowned contemporary Indian artists of our time. Born in Mumbai in 1954, he moved to London in the 1970s and has since become a prominent figure in the global art world. He’s won numerous awards, and his works have been exhibited in major museums and galleries the world over.

One of Kapoor’s greatest strengths is his ability to create art that’s both visually stunning and intellectually engaging. His deep understanding of the relationship between space, form and light, and using these elements to create works, are both awe-inspiring and thought-provoking. His sculptures are often large-scale, creating an immersive experience for the viewer and encouraging them to contemplate the work from multiple perspectives.