Tech city emerges as art hub of NCR

GURGAON: Some cities are given to artistic leanings only seasonally. And then there are others, like Gurgaon, where art becomes something of a constant presence, thanks to a thriving gallery circuit and frequently held exhibitions. Not more than few years ago, the capital was the hotspot go-to place for all the real art enthusiasts, while Gurgaon, a suburb of Delhi in all aspects, had all but a void for a cultural space. Since then, the Millennium City has witnessed sporadic cultural activity.
Contrast this not-very-remote past with Gurgaon's contemporary art scene. Galleries are being set up here at an impressive pace, with the latest launch being just over a week old. A random internet search can throw up details of over a hundred operational art galleries here. Exhibitions continue throughout the year and the range of options is paralleled only by the variety of styles and themes that are on display.
In this regard, Gurgaon has gained a certain edge over places like Noida, emerging as the unlikely hub of contemporary art in the NCR. "Now, you have a community of artists and art lovers in Gurgaon, which has led to this success. There is now a better awareness and appreciation for art," said Goldy Malhotra, who is the founder of The Art Gallery Sushant Lok, a recent addition to Gurgaon's gallery map.
Over time, the city has become the preferred setting for art events, just as it has become a suitable home for some of the most prominent of artists, such as Krishen Khanna and Subodh Gupta. According to Manu Dosaj, whose Gallerie Alternatives in DLF-I is now celebrating its 15th anniversary, this shift in the city's 'artscape' has happened in step with the changing demographics of urban Gurgaon.
"We are now getting younger viewers, and younger buyers than ever before," she said. Today's young aficionados of high art also happen to be corporate employees, flush with big money. Dosaj's art gallery, for instance, has sold an MF Hussain painting to a local buyer for Rs 1 crore 12 lakh plus tax.'
"I don't think the market here is inferior to that in Delhi. Mostly buyers in Delhi are looking to buy old artists for less money. In Gurgaon, young art lovers are becoming serious collectors, and they don't mind investing in young artists or even in mix media. They have an open mind," Dosaj said.
"We've seen a steady increase in footfall at our shows, since we first launched around three years ago," said Sunaina Anand, director of the Art Alive Gallery, which hosts up to four shows annually. The running exhibition at this gallery is called 'When High and Low Art Meet,' an exhibition whose theme is built around the work of that very exemplar of the popular in visual arts, Ravi Varma. "Our gallery is meant not only for the buyers, but also for those who want to learn how to better appreciate art. And mostly, it is in this area that the average gallery visitor in Gurgaon shows promise. The audiences here are discerning and aware," Anand said.