'Art must be appreciated daily, not locked away as investment'

From acquiring the works of some of the world's most significant contemporary artists, raising awareness about the incredible art and culture that define the continuity of South Asian identity, to building multidisciplinary experience centres, Kiran Nadar, founder and chairperson of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), has profoundly shaped and inspired the art world. In an interview with Vaishali Dar, she talks about collecting art, KNMA's upcoming museum, India's art market and more. Edited excerpts:

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From acquiring the works of some of the world's most significant contemporary artists, raising awareness about the incredible art and culture that define the continuity of South Asian identity, to building multidisciplinary experience centres, Kiran Nadar, founder and chairperson of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), has profoundly shaped and inspired the art world. In an interview with Vaishali Dar, she talks about collecting art, KNMA's upcoming museum, India's art market and more. Edited excerpts:

Collecting art from all over the world has been your first love. What prompted you to start this?

I began seriously collecting around the 1990s. Over the years, as my passion and curiosity for art grew, so did my collection. Eventually, I decided to share this vast collection with the public, rather than keeping it stored away. This led to the creation of the first KNMA in Noida in January 2010, followed by the second at Saket in January 2011. I was also acutely aware of the existing dearth of institutional spaces that could bring visibility to art. I realised that my passion lay in raising awareness for the incredible art and culture that define the South Asian identity. The process was very organic and the more I collected the more I felt the need to share.

There is a constant dialogue between cultures, and artists serve as the most eloquent bridges for understanding these connections. This led me to acquire works by some of the world's most significant contemporary artists, presenting them alongside the best that South Asia has to offer.

KNMA's new museum is due to open in 2027 and will include the performing arts. Could you tell us more about the new project? Would you also include some changes to the Saket museum as KNMA completes 15 years this year?