Asian Art in London 2024 takes place from 29th October - 4 November. Read for details of the dealers showing South Asian material at the fair.

RITHIKA PANDEY: The Walls Between Us. Saatchi Gallery, London. The Walls Between Us, explores the complex notion of ‘home’ through the perspective of 12 artists. Charlie Moore speaks to Rithika Pandey.

"Exit the Tiger" by Adeela Suleman explores the fall of Tipu Sultan, the 'Tiger of Mysore,' through antique ceramic plates overpainted with iconic historical scenes. This exhibition reflects on Tipu's resistance against British colonialism, using intricate artistry to evoke courage, legacy, and the brutality of his defeat. Showing at Grosvenor Gallery, London

"The Imaginary Institution of India" is a groundbreaking exhibition exploring Indian art from 1975-1998, marking a period of profound cultural and political change. Featuring 150 works by 30 renowned artists, many on international display for the first time, this Barbican showcase delves into India's rich artistic legacy. Curated by Shanay Jhaveri, it offers an in-depth look at the intersection of art, history, and social movements, highlighting the innovation and resonance of these artists' practices.

Since Christie’s stopped selling in the UK a few years ago, Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary South Asian auction in September 2024 is now one of the only dedicated sales at a major auction house in the UK. This is a pick of a few lots with interesting stories attached.

A celebration of diversity, discovery and personal identity.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) presents a major solo exhibition of work by Bharti Kher, in her most extensive UK museum presentation to date.

Described as a ‘Portait of a Sultan’, bearing a stamp and inventory number on the reverse and estimated at 2,000 – 4,000 euros, this portrait generated serious interest earlier this year when it came up for sale in Belgium. 

The work went on to sell for 3,000,000 euros (plus that all important buyers’ premium). This definitely won’t be the last time this is seen, but Marco from the excellent Instagram account ARTidbits looks into the attribution, and why it could still be a bargain at that price….

The V&A’s exhibition Tropical Modernism looks at the colonial origins of modernist architecture in West Africa and India, and follows on from the exhibition held at the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Uniting the various themes of “Conscious Forms”, Rasheed Araeen Chakras, will be re-staged on the Bristol Docks. First performed in 1970 in London’s St. Katherine Docks to high acclaim, the photo-installation of the performance can be seen at the RWA as part of the exhibition.

“Conscious Forms” goes beyond highlighting Araeen’s artistic achievements; it is not yet another retrospective of his much-celebrated practice. The show critically examines the political context surrounding the development of Araeen’s artistic language, showing how aesthetics and social critique have always been inextricably linked in his work.