Brisk sales at Delhi art fair, UK artist's work fetches Rs 1 cr

NEW DELHI: Mumbai-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor's untitled work fetched a reported sum of over Rs one crore, one of the most expensive exhibit among those by 500 artists at the ongoing India Art Summit here.

Brisk sales were reported by more than half of the exhibitors at the four-day art extravaganza which began on August 19 at the international trade venue of Pragati Maidan.

"Both of Anish's work have been sold. We were not expecting such a huge response," said Michelle D'Souza, director, London-based Lisson Gallery which has brought Kapoor's creation to India for the first time.

A total of 54 galleries including 17 foreign galleries are exhibiting paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and other art works at the fair which is said to be India's equivalent of international fairs held in Basel and Hong Kong among other cities.

It is the second time that such fair is being organised in the country. The last year's edition of the art summit was also held in Delhi.

On the very first day Pakistani artist Sana Arjumand's "Line of Control" was sold. "It is a fairly provocative work," says Pronjal Dutta, Partner of the New York and London-based Aicom gallery which is showing three Pakistani artists in its collection.