The New York Times tracks the growth of a market for Indian Contemporary art in China. It starts in Taiwan . . . and Hong Kong, then spreads into the mainland. Kind of cook when you think about it:

“We were starting to sell works of contemporary Indian art to Taiwanese collectors over the Internet,” said Geetha Mehra, director of Sakshi. “I thought, if I’m doing business with a few buyers, there must be more. And indeed there were.”

While the Indian market is still overwhelmingly driven by domestic buyers, contemporary Indian artists are starting to gain a foothold in East Asia as a result of increasing exposure at exhibitions, art fairs and biennials. Taiwan, which has a long history of investing in cultural commodities, is acting, with Hong Kong, as a regional entry point for contemporary Indian art, including into mainland China. […]

“We’ve noticed an increasing interest from buyers all over Asia, and particularly in China, who are looking at Indian art as a diversified avenue for collection and investment,” said Tushar Sethi, director of the Institute of Contemporary Indian Art in Mumbai.

The I.C.I.A. was one of two Indian galleries that recently helped organize the first large-scale, public exhibition of contemporary Indian art in China, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanghai. The show, called “India Xianzai,” or “India Now,” was a testament to the growing presence of Indian art in the country, displaying more than 60 works by 21 artists, including wall-sized installations, photography and video, spread over two floors of the museum.

By the time it closed last month, no fewer than eight private Chinese galleries had made approaches to express interest in teaming up with the I.C.I.A. to hold contemporary Indian shows in Shanghai next year, Mr. Sethi said.

After a Slow Beginning, Asian Interest in Indian Art Grows (New York Times)