VIEW ARTICLE
We are excited to present on IC, the very first public showing of Saloni Doshi’s diverse collection located in India!
This is the very first appearance on a public platform of Saloni Doshi’s diverse
collection, amassing to an enchanting grouping that excites the soul. This largely
includes contemporary Indian art in the form of painting, photography, sculpture and
etchings, as well as furniture and special home accessories. Saloni has also
extensively collected traditional Indian art forms like Gond, Khalighat and Tanjore.
Saloni is very active, thoroughly traveling the international art world, to train her eye
and fulfil her knowledge and curiosity for beyond her base, returning home to support
young artists and production, where art patronage and collecting is certainly not
common-place.
In 2009 in the industrial heart of Bombay, Saloni founded Space118, as an independent
initiative to provide emerging artists from India and all over the world with studios and a
residency program, amounting now to over 350 artists. Space118 operates with four key
values- experimentation, openness, experience and collaboration- where in South-Asian
countries, there is no council funding and no government funding for residences at all. The
simple fact is, without private patrons in India like Saloni, not much is going to happen.
Not missing the chance to somehow mimic her international explorations by actively
engaging in online viewing rooms (and loving it), Saloni communicated her insights to us,
surrounding the outcome of the Covid-crisis:
“As a collector, globally, during periods of great uncertainty, many people cut discretionary
spending to save funds in case of emergency—and that means money for art purchases are
among the first to dry up. But for those who are able, continuing to collect presents multiple
potential upsides. The first and foremost is that buying art supports the art world. Whether it’s
primary sales (which in part go directly to artists) or secondary market purchases, it’s a very
real way of ensuring that the people and businesses who make up the art industry are able
to survive.
With social distancing becoming our new normal, the art trade will be fully online for the
foreseeable future. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing: digital platforms like Whatsapp,
Facebook and Instagram have come a long way since 2008, offering greater accessibility
and transparency to collectors than ever before.
As an art patron and founder of Space118, when COVID-19 ends, arts residencies will play a
critical role in the re-emergence of national and international exchange. In this moment of
pause, there is no better time to connect with your peers, be part of a network, and continue
capacity building through digital learning.”
– Saloni Doshi
Following next in this Online Exhibition, we present selected artworks from Saloni Doshi’s
private collection, offering a visual interplay with our current time.