Refugees, Children of War Theme Hogs Limelight at India Art Fair

Sculptures hanging by a thread depict the plight of displaced people

Image Credit: AP

The 2018 India Art Fair held in New Delhi displayed a range of artistic work from around the globe and brought together artists of various nationalities, collectors, curators and a growing number of art enthusiasts.

The 10th edition of the Indian Art Fair featured 78 galleries from 18 countries, including Portugal, United States, Spain and India. Portraits hanging on every wall depicts human sufferings, refugee crisis, gender equality and children of war.

According to UNHCR, an unprecedented 65.6 million conflict-ridden people around the world have been forced out of their homes. Among them 22.5 million are refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.

Delhi-based artist Subba Ghosh said he drew inspiration from the global refugee and migrant crisis, and named his installation ‘The Flow’. Ghosh uses an audio of waves, the constant motion of light and darkness to map the journey of uncertainty and narratives of survival.

So my basic idea is not only migration. It’s like the cluster of people are together and they have life. Like within that pain also, they are living their life. They are enjoying, the conversation is still happening

Sudipta Das, Indian artist

Contemporary Asian art remained in the spotlight this year although work of many Internationally famous artists such as Jeff Koons was on display. The work of Korean-American artist Timothy Hynsoo Lee titled "1000 attempts at reconciliation" received a huge applause. He used 1,000 sheets of 24 karat gold leaves onto painted surfaces, depicting the possibilities of love.

Paintings, experimental photography, abstract expressionist art and mixed-media projects stunned the visitors. Known for hard-hitting work that draws on feminist issues and gender rights, Lipi uses stainless steel razor blades to create objects: a metallic mask, handcuffs, a clutch.

Some part of my works are like making objects and doing the sculptures, those are all very much intimate with my own life, so I always frame them in different sections, like you know my own life, my personal objects. And at the same time I think about when I work with the community, when I work with other people, gender is a key theme of my work.

Tayeba Begum Lipi, artist from Bangladesh

(With inputs from AP)

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