Milestones, new hubs energise the art scene

Art shows travelled outside of Mumbai and Delhi, while artists tackled thorny issues of displacement and distress this year

- Avantika Bhuyan

'Mourning En-Masse' by Satish Gujral; (right) Monali Meher's 'Running Thread III'.

Energising—there is no better word to describe the art calendar this year. The overall mood seemed one of optimism with galleries moving to newer homes and festivals looking beyond the usual centres of Delhi and Mumbai to expand their audience base in Jodhpur, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. A sense of synergy spilled over from 2024 as galleries continued to collaborate on events such as Mumbai Gallery Weekend and Delhi Contemporary Art Week.

There was greater depth to the programming at the 10th edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival and the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale, with the focus on friendship economies and collaboration. The Moderns continued to set records at auctions, while artists like Krishen Khanna celebrated milestone years.

Performance art, textile-based works and newer engagements with sculpture could be seen through 2025, especially at fairs such as Art Mumbai and the Sculpture Park in Jaipur. Key contemporary voices from the Global South, especially from Sri Lanka, made their presence felt at exhibitions and institutional shows to offer newer perspectives on living with conflict.

The Middle East, particularly Qatar, emerged as a centre for Indian art as the Lawh Wa Qalam: M.F. Husain Museum opened its doors to the public in November. Such is the growing significance of this region that Art Basel has announced a new edition to be held in Doha in February next year, where artists from India and the diaspora will be connected with an expanded collector base.