Delhi Contemporary Art Week Opens Ninth Edition at Bikaner House
The ninth edition of Delhi Contemporary Art Week opened its preview at Bikaner House in Delhi, showcasing presentations from six women-led galleries from across the capital. The exhibition, which remains on view through September 5, features contemporary works engaging with themes of climate, ecology, identity, memory, place, and lived experience through various media and materials.
The collective showcase brings together Delhi galleries directed by women, including Renu Modi, founder of Gallery Espace; Roshini and Parul Vadehra, co-directors of Vadehra Art Gallery; Rasika Kajaria of Exhibit 320; Bhavna Kakar, founder of Latitude 28; and Shefali Somani, founder of Shrine Empire.
Among the artworks presented at the preview is Meri Baat Sun Lo (2025) by artist Shoneize Akhtar, a piece rooted in childhood memories. Lyricist Javed Akhtar, who attended the opening alongside Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, noted that he could not believe his niece had first picked up a brush and painted on canvas just three years ago.
The exhibition features diverse sculptural and mixed-media formats. Artist-sculptor Manav Gupta viewed Anupama Alias’ mixed-media creations exploring womanhood through the body. The showcase also features Yogesh Ramkrishna’s On The Command Of My Master, a chalk-painted carbon-fibre sculpture examining themes of authority, as well as artist Juhikadevi Bhanjdeo's artwork Skin of Home, constructed from an aal-dyed panel fastened with safetypins.
Participating gallerists highlighted shifts in collector interest toward narrative and medium. Bhavna Kakar of Latitude 28 noted that younger buyers are open to experimentation, frequently discovering artists online prior to approaching a gallery and seeking stories they resonate with. Shefali Somani of Shrine Empire observed that collectors have shown strong interest in unconventional materialities that serve as conversation starters.
The preview also saw attendance from artists and cultural figures including Jaya Asokan, Samar Jodha, Gopi Gajwani, Nisha Singh, Waswo X. Waswo, Kanchan Chander, and GR Iranna.
