The cultural landscape of Dubai is set to be embellished with a spectrum of artistic genres as World Art Dubai returns for its milestone tenth edition. From May 2 to May 5, over 4,000 artworks will grace the event, brought forth by 400 galleries and artists representing over 60 countries. This remarkable confluence of creativity, which became an annual fixture since its inception in 2014, faced a digital iteration in 2020 amidst the pandemic but is now back in full force.
Amongst the eclectic mix of international talent, Indian artists stand in the spotlight, with The Hindu MetroPlus highlighting three dynamic contributors from the subcontinent who are displaying their diverse and powerful pieces at this year’s exhibition.
Bengaluru’s very own artist, Amrish Malvankar, exhibits his profound synergy between architecture and graphic design through his abstract art. Unrestrained by the strictures of formal art education, Amrish’s creations emerge from a rich backdrop of his expertise in graphic design and architecture, marrying colors on canvas in a celebration of form and the formless. He traces his artistic lineage to his father’s side, which experienced an eclipse for two generations when art was not deemed a sustainable vocation. Nevertheless, his passion found an ally in architecture, which allowed him to maintain proximity to creativity while he pursued professional qualifications.
Amidst the pressures of his work life, it was his wife, Tarunjeet, who envisioned the potential of his hobby. Her belief materialized into his inaugural exhibition, a resounding success where he sold 35 out of 42 canvases, spearheading his journey as a full-time artist since 2009. World Art Dubai will showcase approximately 17 of Amrish’s works, signaling his return to figurative art after nearly a decade infused with the influence of his abstract period. Admirers of sizeable canvases will find his work particularly captivating, with large art pieces soaring up to eight feet in length.
Resonating with an innovative zeal, Gujarat’s Niyati Parekh, an aerospace engineer by training, chose to heed her artistic call over her technical background. Crafting handmade products even during her college days and later venturing into interior design, Niyati’s artistry finally found its voice through mixed media. Her hometown Rajkot offered limited outreach, pushing her to showcase her talent in larger cities like Mumbai, where her work received a warm reception. It was a visit to a World Art exhibition during a property expo in Dubai with her husband that presented her with the golden chance to display her art on an esteemed global platform.
The upcoming show boasts 17 of Niyati’s pieces, all exclusively created for the event with painstaking dedication over six to eight months. Miniature artworks inspired by her travels manifest the allure of the places she visited, encapsulating the essence of locales like the scenic Udaipur in Rajasthan into tangible vestiges of beauty.
Lastly, the compelling narrative of Dhiraj Khandelwal unfolds, whose talent for capturing faces was recognized since his toddler years with an anecdotal sketch of Bollywood giant Amitabh Bachchan. Despite the early signs of artistic penchant, Dhiraj followed a more conventional path through the International Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi and later into advertising and construction. The call of art persisted, and in 2014 Dhiraj embraced his destiny as a full-time artist, a transition that his family gradually came to accept.
Women, particularly Indian, hold a special place in Dhiraj’s portfolio, reflected not only in their external grace but also in the internal reservoir of their struggles and resilience. His preferred medium, oil paint, captures the profound narratives that each face holds. With 12 carefully selected works, Dhiraj is exhilarated to participate in World Art Dubai, showcasing his dedication to painting regardless of the external incentives of sales or exhibitions.
As these three Indian artists prepare to make their statement on the global art stage, followers can keep abreast of their creations and stories on their respective Instagram handles: @amrishmalvankar, @shadesandstylesdesignstudio, and @artist_dhirajkhandelwal. World Art Dubai 2024 promises a vivid tapestry of culture and expression where the vibrancy of Indian artistry is set to leave an indelible impression.
