Venue: NSIC Grounds, Kalkaji

In the day and age of the “aam admi”, the India Art Fair has succeeded in liberating art from the stuffy galleries to the common man. For the last six years, the Fair brings to Delhi an esoteric presentation where galleries from India and overseas flex their collection of art – in any form – under simple tents.

The Fair this year had its “fair” share of masters – Hussain – Raza – Souza – a lone Picasso. But the crowd pullers were perhaps the installations and the sculptures that, by virtue of having a third dimension, struck a chord with all visitors.

The display this year was smaller – almost half of each of the three pavilions was encroached by merchandise and coffee lounges. In fact, in one of the pavilions, some jeweler guy, trying to pass off commonplace jewellery as art, encroached on a huge space. But what the heck – what is an art show without pretense?

Every little thing contributed to the joie de vivre and we had an awfully enjoyable time. Please see the photo journal, which, we hope, conveys the essence of our experience.