During the last few years, t he contemporary art scene in the country ahs blossomed into a high profile attention getter, auctioned at never before pric4es by international autctioneers.


The works of all India’s best artists are pre-sold almost always, but can sometimes be seen art galleries in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Vadodara and Thiruvananthapuram. Art exhibitions are held in these ctities fromt ime to time and reature solo and group shows.

Museums all over the country exihibit objects that range from finds at archaeological sites, miniature paintings, royal memorabilia to India’s finest traditional crafts. Of course, this varies from one museum to another.


New Delhi’s National Museum exhibits a range from terracotta figures from the 5th and 6th centuries BC to exquisite swords of the Mughal period.


Also in New Delhi, the Crafts Museum displays the folk arts of India. Periodical exhibitions include textiles, wooden sculptures of coastal India and other thematic subjects.


Jaipur’s city palace, itself an object to wonder, houses a collection of royal memorabilia, as do the museums in other parts of Rajasthan: Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Alwar and Bundi. Each of there were princely states whose rulers were great patrons of art, and miniature paintings in the distinctive style of each state forms the nucleus of many a museum’s treasures.


In Gujarat, the city of Ahmedabad has a sprinkling of museums. The Shreyas Museum of Folk Art, the Calico Museum of Textiles, the Kite Museum and the Utensils Museum, each display facets of the rich heritage of craft traditions of Gujarat. Vadodara’s museum is housed in an old palace and includes extremely rare bronze figurines.


In the north, Jammus’ two museums display a valuable collection of miniature paintings collectively known as ‘Pahari’ or of the hill schools. Srinagar’s S P Museum is the only place in India where once can see stone sculptures of deities executed in the distinctive style that was a hallmark of Kashmir from the 7th to 11th centuries.


Bhopal’s museum revolves around the considerable tribal skill of Madhya Pradesh, the focus of which is dhokhra figures, made in the lost wax technique out of bell metal.


Pune’s Dinkar Kelkar Museum is the lifelong collection of one man whose theme was the celebration of everyday life in art. Hyderabad’s most famous museum is the Salar Jung Museum, again a personal collection which features priceless treasures and whimsical objects side by side.


Thirvananthapuram has a museum whose building a probably the most photographed edifice in the city. Objects displayed inside are exquisitely carved bronze temple figures. Cochin has a number of museums housed in buildings that were built by the Dutch as palaces, and by local rulers.


Calcutta too has a museum that was the personal collection of one family, at Mallick’s Palace. It is impossible to give a brief account of a subject that required a full volume to itself. Every city or town in the country will have a museum featuring classical, tribal or folk art.