India Inspired

Art philanthropist Shalini Passi essays her thoughts around artistic innovation in India

- 

In my view, the best of contemporary Indian art and design embraces artistic innovation while acknowledging India’s depth of artisanal tradition. When acquiring contemporary pieces from India, I seek works that bear significance to the culture, but are not limited to a heritage craft aesthetic. To me, this does not represent a contradiction, but a philosophy: Art cannot push boundaries if there is no constraint to push against — there is no innovation without tradition. The re-imagining of craft heritage, in the context of the country’s present day issues, represents the fundamenta