Asian Art in London 2024

This year’s Asian Art in London takes place from the 29th October to the 8th of November.  It’s the 27th year, and whilst most of the dealers are focused on material from China and Japan, there are a small handful that handle South Asian material.

This year the dealers are housed by the big auction houses – Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams. Previously participants rented spaces in private galleries around central London, then for a while at Cromwell Place – remember them..? – but this year I assume everyone’s hoping for some cross-pollination.

AAL traditionally takes place just before the London series of Asian auctions in November, but slightly too late for the Indian and Islamic sales that are happening at the moment.

An aside - Given our recent Field Notes on Tipu Sultan, this sword is a remarkable thing.  It was sold by the family only this summer, but let’s do a proper article on that as it’s a bonkers story…

I also like this wonderful miniature at Bonhams, formely in the collection of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.  Quality Indian material is thin on the ground at Christie’s, but I think this is a lovely Impey album page. Sotheby’s has happened already, but still, this miniature by Balchand is a very lovely thing.

Anyway, to business…

The dealers showing at AAL this year are, in no particular order, Rob Dean Art, Runjeet Singh, Sundaram Tagore and Sue Ollemans. Whilst the number of dealers showing South Asian material is short, I’m sure quality will be there in abundance.

The Marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Kangra, circa 1810

Rob Dean has collaborated with Grosvenor Gallery for several years, showing modern, 19th century and tribal material. This year he is showing remotely, Indian miniatures from prestigious private collections.

Runjeet Singh, who mentioned that AAL is one of the best events he does in terms of sales, is showing arms and armor from India, alongside 18th and 19th century Indian paintings. This miniature of a sea monster has been shortlisted for the AAL prize

A sea monster devouring a ship, Provincial Mughal, circa 1790

Sundaram Tagore will include some paintings by the Indian artist Sohan Qadri, amongst a wider display of East Asian artists’ work.

Sue Ollemans has an exhibition titled ‘Asian Gold’.

There are late-night openings on the following dates:

Saturday 2 November - Kensington Church Street

Sunday 3 November - St James’s

Monday 4 November – Mayfair

There is a one-day symposium on Sunday 3rd November. Click here to buy tickets

AAL also holds a party, which this year takes place at the V&A on 30 October. It’s a wonderful location for the event, and I can hands down say that it will be better than the one that took place at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Soho in 2016.  The best thing about that was that the sitar player from our wedding also played that night. 

To buy tickets click here .

Rider on an elephant masked horse, Mewar

With Runjeet Singh

A diamond and ruby necklace, Benares, India, 19th Century

Sohan Qadri

Kama V, (2008)

Ink & dye on paper

- Sundaram Tagore