Canvas will never be dead: Aparajita Jain

The dynamic Aparajita Jain started Seven Art Limited (a gallery based in the heart of New Delhi), a month-and-a-half after Lehman Brothers collapsed. It was quite an audacious move at that point in time. However, with her vision and unstinting hard work over the years, she managed to build a brand and nurture some of the rockstar artists of our times.

A lot of artists supported and encouraged by her are now a part of some of the major shows and biennales on the global firmament. “I just went ahead and did what I believed in. We hosted a Museum show in Shanghai, something which was unheard of in those times. It was the first major contemporary art museum show in the Chinese city,” says the young achiever.

Milestones galore
Aparajita’s litany of achievements in this inspiring journey seem endless. “I produced Gandhi Tolstoy Farm: Archive of Utopia in New Delhi which reflected the subjective and creative analysis of the philosophies of Gandhi, Leo Tolstoy and Nelson Mandela. Besides, artist Asim Waqif exhibited a solo show at Palais De Tokyo in December 2012. However, the major milestone has been buying into Nature Morte,” says the catalyst on Delhi’s art scene.

She plans to host a solo show by artists Thukral and Tagra in Mumbai in November. Her eyes light up as she recalls her artists’ achievements. “We have Dayanita Singh at London’s Hayward Gallery, Subodh Gupta at Delhi’s NGMA, Thukral & Tagra are launching a collection for Etro in London, Bharti Kher is opening a show in Shanghai’s Rockbund Art Museum in January, Jitish Kallat at the San Jose Museum.”

The best part about her artistic journey is the inspiring interaction with a panoply of gifted minds. “A lot of my artists have impacted me profoundly — Asim Waqif, Dayanita Singh, Rothko, Basquiat,” says she with a smile. A recent meeting with Dayanita left a strong impression on her. “I find her dedication to her chosen path, her vision and her dream quite touching. She is undeterred by the results and outcomes... she just walks on... it is so powerful,” she adds.

Is Canvas dead?
“Canvas can and never will be dead. Just because invention takes place doesn’t mean we let go of the roots. Some of the major works of art that command astronomical sums are still canvas. However, we love installation and video art and will do everything in our power to push it in mainstream. Some very significant and poetic works are video, photography and installations,” says the lady.

A penchant for the arts
“We work with a lovely set of artists. I enjoy collecting art and own a gorgeous Jitish Kallat besides artworks by Thukral and Tagra, Bharti Kher, Aditya Pande, Raza, Husain, Mehreen Murtaza, Ayesha Jatoi and Jaganath Panda. I love each of my artwork,” she shares.

Apart from art, Aparajita loves reading and photography and is also involved with a lot of philanthropic activities. “I have a foundation called Saat Saath Arts which hosted the project, Artiger — Art for the Tiger which featured 58 artists, 50 corporate houses and installations of tigers spread across 52 public locations in the capital to save the big cats which are threatened by a combination of factors in their habitats. It was a great initiative and we raised a substantial sum for the Ranthambore Foundation.

Besides that, we did a TEDx event last December for youth in Delhi,” she says. Given her liking for all things beautiful, it comes as no surprise when she says that she loves fashion. “Style is an extension of one’s own self and not vice versa. Our personality needs to be stronger than the fashion one is wearing. I like Anamika Khanna and Monisha Jaising in India and internationally I’m partial to Lanvin, DVF, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.”

Delhi — the new art capital
“Delhi is soon over taking Mumbai as the art capital. We have more museums, more non-profit institutions dedicated to art and new practices. There is a lot more space devoted to public art and also I see a thirst in people for more art. Mumbai is fabulous too but a lot more is happening in Delhi now,” she says.

Art as investment
“It has, but it’s a dangerous vertical in investments, because one really has to study what to buy if they really wish to make money. To make money in art, one must wait for at least three to five years. I have bought some works as investment too,” she shares.