‘Blue Horizons: Harvest 2024’ bridges artists, creativity, and human spirit

Harvest 2024: The Harvest Festival, one of India’s most celebrated art showcases, returns to Delhi this year with its latest edition, Blue Horizons, hosted by Arushi Arts Gallery.

Founded by Payal Kapoor, the festival has become a premier platform for bridging generations of artists, bringing together established names and fresh talent in a single, vibrant celebration of creativity.

“This festival was initiated to provide senior and young artists with a shared platform,” says Payal Kapoor, Founder Director of Arushi Arts Gallery.

The 2024 exhibition, she explains, is a poetic reflection of life, art, and the boundless aspirations of the human spirit. “It’s a symbol of our hopes and dreams,” she adds. “By uniting artists with this vision, Harvest 2024 will present works that inspire and deeply connect with viewers.”

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A dynamic figure in India’s art scene, Payal hails from a prominent Delhi industrial family with diverse interests in art, real estate, fashion, and the hospitality industry. She has been championing Indian contemporary and tribal art since establishing Arushi Arts in 1993.

Over the years, she has brought Indian artistry to international audiences through exhibitions and art fairs across India, Singapore, Paris, London, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.

She has seen Indian art grow from the nascent stage to where it is today. Many of the artists promoted by Arushi Arts have found their way into significant private and corporate collections, as well as museums. She is the co-founder of India’s only hotel art fair – Artix.

The theme of the colour blue for the current show has been chosen since it is a significant symbol of vastness and peace in human thought, with its influence evident in both Western and Eastern cultures.

The exhibition features a group of artists who gaze out at the busy modern world from the serene shores of a blue water pool, presenting viewers with a unique perspective on the art world, set against the rich background of history.

The colour blue was dominant in the West during the medieval and Renaissance periods but was also valued in Far Eastern countries and Indian art.

Artists like Giotto, Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh have been inspired by blue, with Picasso’s “Blue Period” producing melancholic works like La Vie and Klein’s “International Klein Blue” redefining the role of colour in modern art.

Henri Matisse has explored the possibilities of blue throughout history, shaping really artistic narratives from ethereal to sentimental.

The highlight of this Delhi exhibition is works from artists of the stature of KG Subramanyan, Satish Gupta, Prabhakar Kolte, Shobha Broota, Japani Shyam, Suraj Kumar Kashi, Lado Bai, Vinod Sharma, Bratin Khan, Faiza Huma, Purvi Sharma, Ahalya Rajendran, Yash Desai, Sachindra Nath Jha, and many more.

Kapoor explains that, over the years, the Harvest Festival has grown significantly, prompting them to divide the exhibition into sections based on genres due to the increasing number of participating artists.

Having a background in textile designing and having taken art classes under renowned artist Rameshwar Broota, Payal shares that the Harvest Festival was initiated in 2001. She notes that it was launched during a time when large-scale art shows were rare in India.

Highlighting the festival’s prominence, Payal describes it as the largest group show in India, attracting eminent artists, critics, and art enthusiasts. She recalls memorable moments, including a surprise visit by legendary artist MF Husain, who came to view the show while they were still setting up the artworks.

Payal also shares an amusing anecdote about the overwhelming response to one of their previews. Expecting around 50 attendees, the gallery was surprised when nearly 200 visitors arrived, leading to them running out of wine.

As an organisation devoted to the cause of art and artists, Arushi Arts’ goal is to promote good, upcoming art at affordable prices while also making people aware of Indian artists and Indian art all over India as well as globally.

Arushi Arts, she affirms, has a deep commitment to showcasing talent and helping artists sell their works across India and abroad.

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Their agenda also includes art workshops and specialised training for art lovers, and to that end, Arushi Arts works with the support of the art community and all those who love art

Payal explains that the gallery deals in a wide range of artworks, including original pieces, prints, etchings, sculptures, and chemical prints by various artists.

These artworks are created in diverse mediums such as watercolours, oil on canvas, charcoal, pastels, bronze, mixed media, gouache, tempera, and stone.

Reflecting on the art scene in India, Payal describes it as “vibrant and eclectic,” shaped by stylistic influences from both the East and the West. This blend, she notes, creates a unique idiom that is modern yet deeply rooted in Indian ethos.

Payal highlights Arushi Arts’ commitment to promoting Indian art through exhibitions held in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and even abroad in London.

She emphasises the importance of showcasing both upcoming and established artists to spread awareness of India’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.

Additionally, Payal points out that one of the gallery’s objectives is to address societal concerns through art. This includes creating awareness about environmental issues, societal challenges, current events, and universal themes of nature and emotions.

When: December 20-February 10; 11 AM – 6 PM

Where: W-23, GK-II, New Delhi