by Humra Quraishi

Art trends
Like I have earlier mentioned, rather repeatedly mentioned, a percentage of Delhiites has that capacity to swallow all this reality with glamourous events, the latest being the opening of the art gallery, Art Junction at the Intercontinental. Being sure that it would be held by temporarily converting one of the hotel suites into a gallery. I was taken by complete surprise when I saw a major part of its third floor being fitted with people and paintings... you name the person and he or she was to be found there... and, mind you, not looking harassed by the shooting onion or coriander prices but carefree and happy. Yes, it was one of those relaxing evenings, rounded up with platefuls of finely cut onions. Whilst on this art gallery let me fill in some other details — thankfully it wouldn’t be just a plain art gallery but one of those fitted with a affordable cafe and filled in with innovative activities. It will also be open for artists, sculptors, potters, writers, poets, film directors to come and either show/display their talent or speak about their latest works. I think the finer details could be got from Naresh Kapuria who is the art consultant of this art gallery or from the hotel’s public relations officer. For this opening and the ongoing month-long exhibition 20 artists have come up with their works and these artists include Sterre — the spouse of Satish Sharma, Avinash Pasricha, cartoonist Sudhir Tailang (in fact Tailang was also sketching/cartooning on guests’ request), Gayatri Manchanda, Hemi Bawa, Toshi Chanana..... And on one side of the gallery was the happening show — a dance on sand by the Delhi-based French dancer Giles which was directed and conceived by Kapuria. In fact, I have never witnessed such a transformation as in the case of Kapuria — in the mid-80s when I first spotted him he was working as an office assistant in Triveni Kala Sangam and thereafter saw him transformed into an artist and now an art consultant.