Christie's to be engaged with exhibition of British contemporary arts in India

KOLKATA: Christie's will be engaged with the 5th edition of the India Art Fair in January/February 2013, and partner with 'Homelands', an exhibition of British contemporary arts from the British Council collection to tour to Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, which will open in New Delhi on January 22, 2013.

Christie's has had a long association with India. James Christie, the enigmatic founder of Christie's, offered four India pictures painted on glass in his inaugural auction in London in 1776. In 1994, Christie's opened an office in Mumbai, the only international auction house to have a consistent presence in India, and held its first sale of contemporary Indian art the following year.

As one of the leaders in this category, with sales held annually in New York and London, Christie's is offering its international support to these two major initiatives in India for 2013.

Amin Jaffer, international director, Asian Art, at Christie's said in an email statement: ""We are delighted to support the annual India Art Fair as we recognise its importance as a convening moment for all those who are passionate about the future of the Indian art market and are interested in India's national artistic development.'

Menaka Kumari-Shah, Christie's head of India, added: ""The 'Homelands' exhibition will showcase the very best art being produced by leading contemporary artists in Britain - a fitting juxtaposition to our international sales of works by their South Asian contemporaries. Both the Art Fair and the exhibition are opportunities for us to lend our support to cultural and educational opportunities which are important milestones in the Indian cultural agenda for 2013.""