The Skoda Art Award,one of the most prestigious prizes for contemporary art in India,has announced its shortlist for the year 2010-11. Kiran Subbaiah,who is currently based in New York,Balasubramaniam Alwar from Bangalore,and Mithu Sen from Delhi are in contention for the Rs10 lakh award. The candidates were chosen by a jury comprising Tasneem Mehta,Director of INTACH and honorary director of the Bhaudaji Lad Museum in Mumbai,Dr Kavita Singh,associate professor,School of Arts and Aesthetics,Jawahar Lal Nehru University,and Rajshree Pathy,an art collector and founder of Contemplate Art Gallery in Coimbatore. The shortlisted artists will have an exhibition promoting their work,and the winner will be announced during the India Art Summit later this month. The three artists chosen are innovative and among Indias finest,besides being quite well-established with the backing of high-profile galleries in India and abroad. In fact,their nomination has surprised many in the art world who were expecting younger artists to be taken in to account. Incidentally,the award recognises works of artists below 45 years of age. Art critic and head of the Skoda advisory committee,Girish Sahaney,however,is of the opinion that their decision was well thought out. Alwar has not got his due,because he is not one of the more prolific and visible artists. His work too is not easy to appreciate, he says. He adds that Subbaiah also works in formats like video and performance art that are not easy to sell.
