Western Artists and India: Creative Inspirations in Art and Design

Western Artists and India identifies the cross-cultural exchanges that took place between India and the West after decolonization, with its primary focus on important American and European artists and designers who travelled to India post independence and created works inspired by their visits. While providing a valuable portrait of a largely unacknowledged aspect of the history of art produced in India, their journeys serve as the conduit to an examination of the growth of Indian Modernism and rare moments of local patronage. This highly original volume has nearly 400 images, which include many hitherto unpublished photographs from personal archives. It comprises seven authoritative essays by noted critics and art historians; four fascinating interviews with the artists Howard Hodgkin, Lynda Benglis, Luigi Ontani and Wolfgang Laib; a specially commissioned contribution by the artist Matti Braun; and representative portfolios of 29 artists.