Chalo! India: A New Era of Indian Art

Chalo in Hindi means, “Let’s go”. In the fore­word of this book Essl is keen to look at the dynamic relationship between India’s socio-political-economic devel­opments and India’s artists. He compares the rise of Indian artists on the global circuit to that of Chinese artists, but is forthcoming in pointing out the differences between the two nations and consequentially the art they are producing.

This book is incredibly timely with a major exhibition opening in London this February on contemporary Indian art. Indian art is now transcending the high profile collectors’ club, and is being experienced by more and more people in the West.

Chalo! India: A New Era of Indian Art offers an his­torical perspective on India’s fast changing society and emergence as a global economy, as well as stunning imagery from 27 of India’s most important practicing artists, and a detailed chronology starting from 1947 when India and Pakistan were partitioned into two independent countries. Not only is this a beautiful collection, but it also pro­vides an important overview to the continuous developments of contemporary Indian Art.

Finnegan Durfee