The National is soaking up the vibe at the Indian Art Fair:

“When we showcased in Art Stage in Singapore, we did a curated show. Here we have given our artists carte blanche because we expect a lot of sales,” says Anahita Taneja, the owner of Shrine Empire gallery in New Delhi, who is showing four female artists in her booth. Three of them — Fariba Alam, Samantha Batra Mehta, and Priyanka Dasgupta — are based in New York, and one, Suchitra Gahlot, is based in New Delhi.

The mood on the ground is giddy as curators and gallerists put finishing touches on their booths. Bhavna Kakar, the brash, fast-talking owner of Latitude 28 gallery, likens it to a big fat Indian wedding. “You meet the same people at gallery openings and parties,” she says. “The collateral events – Skoda, performance art – have become really huge. People talk about what you are wearing for this party and what about tomorrow for breakfast, particularly if you are staying at the same hotel. It’s like an Indian wedding.”

Curators and gallerists put finishing touches to 2012 India Art Fair (The National)