The second edition of Delhi Art Week (DAW), which will begin on Wednesday in a hybrid format, takes a slight deviation from the first one to garner international audience and to buffer the blows of uncertainty sparked by the pandemic. The organisers — Tariq Allana, associate director of Art Heritage, Sunaina Anand, director of Art Alive Gallery, and Reena Lath, director of Akar Prakar — have collaborated with NYC-based Artsy, an online marketplace for art, for a virtual exhibition which will be on view till September 14. “The first edition was launched in April last year when the Delta wave was in full swing. It limited people from viewing the DAW as it was a physical event,” says Tariq.
He points towards technological evolution in the art world during Corona times, stating that almost all art fairs have now transitioned to a virtual space by creating online versions of their event, called the Online Viewing Rooms (or OVRs). “So, for the second edition, we learnt from our experience, and decided to make it a ‘phygital’ event - onsite in the galleries and institutions, as well as online. By taking it online, it also opened up the opportunity to give DAW an international flavour and give it a spot on the global art calendar,” he adds.
