Supporting Emerging Talent: The 34th Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation exhibition

The 34^th Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation Exhibition was launched at the Dhoomimal Gallery in G block, Connaught Place, on September 29 with a scintillating display of artworks by 55 new artists. The winners from this selection will be announced on October 14, with each receiving a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 plus continued support from the gallery and networking opportunities to grow their career.

The Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation was set up in the memory of the legendary art patron and director of India’s oldest gallery, Dhoomimal Gallery, by his wife, Uma Ravi Jain with the support of his friends and artists. One of them, danseuse Sharon Lowen, was present at the launch of the 34^th Ravi Jain Memorial Foundation to support Uma Ravi Jain. The director of the gallery, Uday Jain said at the launch, “It has been the gallery’s effort to bring spotlight on newer talent each year through this initiative as my father, the late Ravi Jain, believed in fostering young talent. We are very happy to have continued to do this every year and given talented artists to the Indian art world. Every year, we receive nearly a thousand applications from all over the country and this year was no exception, giving us a great choice to select from. Hemraj was our first awardee, and he has gone on to become an important name in the field today.”

The exhibition, featuring works in a variety of media—paintings in colour as well as incorporating mixed media, sculptures and installations—assumes importance because it is a microcosmic showcase of the trends in contemporary Indian art, giving a peek into the direction art in the country is going to take over the foreseeable future.