#25 For 2025: How will artists keep up with an ever-changing India?

The very definition of 'contemporary' is a complex one. It's no longer merely a label for the latest trends, but rather a complex interplay of historical, cultural and aesthetic factors. As postmodernism wanes, a new sensibility emerges, characterised by a personal, small-scale approach that contrasts with the monumentalism of the past. This shift is evident in the work of artists who are increasingly drawn to interactive materials, and engage with the social and political issues of our time.

While there is an urgency for historicising and defining the term contemporary, it's also being used as an institutional object. An example of this is the changing institutional landscape of Indian contemporary art and the expansion of the India Art Fair to Mumbai as the India Art Fair Contemporary (IAFC), to be inaugurated at Jio World Garden in November 2025, alongside the existing Art Mumbai fair.

New experimental art spaces are emerging across the country. Galleries like Chemould Prescott Road, Gallery Espace, Chatterjee & Lal, Bodhi Art and Artisera are expanding their presence while new ones are opening. These include New Delhi gallery Nature Morte opening a new space in Mumbai's Colaba and Artisera expanding offline with its first physical space in Bengaluru. This growth is fuelled by a rising interest in contemporary art, as it's a set of artistic productions maintained by a global set of art institutions.


Indian artists are increasingly making their mark on the global stage. Names like Shilpa Gupta, Subodh Gupta, Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra, and more are recognised internationally as their work shares a certain sensibility, aesthetic and a decline of postmodernism. Contemporary Indian art is deeply intertwined with the social and political context of the country. Artists are using their work to comment on issues such as caste, class, gender, and environmental degradation. This engagement with social reality is a defining characteristic of contemporary Indian art.

The author is an art collector and TV star.

Also Read
#25 For 2025: How to bring more diversity to decision-making roles?
#25 For 2025: When will the middle class get to rejoice?
#25 For 2025: How much further will AI disrupt lives?
#25 For 2025: Will India continue to ‘wait and watch’, is the big crypto question on everyone's mind
#25 For 2025: What does ‘America First’ imply for India’s trade and security concerns?