South India's 2012 Blockbuster Art Fairs
February 22, 2012

Interest and investment in modern Indian art is at an all time high, with galleries in Delhi and Mumbai representing a cadre of world renowned Indian artists and their work. 2012, however is the year when all art collecting eyes will be on the South when two events, Art Chennai and the Kochi Biennale are set to attract crowds from around the globe.

Art Chennai, March 11-18

Unlike the India Art Fair in Delhi, Art Chennai does not have a consolidated venue. Instead, it functions out of a main hotel venue and several of the city’s private galleries for that one week. Chennai's position on the Eastern coastline of Tamil Nadu makes it a convenient hub for South Indian galleries from Hyderbad, Bangalore, and Kochi which will all be in attendance. Like last yea artworks lit up the side facade of the Taj Coromandel. In 2012 several public installations including a piece called "Catastrophe" will be on view along the iconic Marina beach. Art Chennai also includes "To Let The World In," a four-part exhibition by art historian and curator Chaitanya Sambrani, combining the work of about 30 multigenerational artists. The exhibition will be held at the Lalit Kala Regional Centre from March 15-April 10. Visit www.artchennai.com for more details.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale - December 12

Everyone in the art world is buzzing about 12/12/12. No, not because of Mayan calendar predictions but because of the Kochi Muzriris Bienniale (KMB). The aim of the bienniale is to introduce ambitious contemporary international visual art practices and theory to India and to showcase new Indian and international art.

The buzz started in June 2010 when India debuted at the Venice Biennale with its own pavilion, and in 2012 India inaugurates their own art biennale in Kochi's (aka Cochin) scenic and historically rich environs.

Co-founded by artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu, the primary venue for the biennale is the newly renovated Durbar Hall in Kochi as well as other non-traditional venues in Fort Kochi, Matancherry and surrounding islands. Transport is being organized between the sites and like Venice, you have an option to get to them by boat! Visit www.kochimuzirisbiennale.org for more details.

To experience the beauty of Indian art, from ancient to modern, talk to an Enchanting-India travel expert today!

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