[비즈한국] The ‘2025 Eurasia Busan International Art Fair,’ held at BEXCO Exhibition Center II in Busan until the 7th, features a special Indian pavilion showcasing contemporary Indian art. We met with two individuals who have been preparing this pavilion as partners on the Indian side and are working hard to foster cultural exchange between Korea and India: Rathi Jaffar, Director of the InKo Centre, and Sobhan Kumar, Regional Secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
The InKo Centre is a non-profit cultural center established in 2006 to promote cultural exchange between India and Korea. The Lalit Kala Akademi is India's national academy of fine arts under the Ministry of Culture, supporting and fostering both traditional and contemporary Indian art. In cooperation with K-Art, the organizer of the Busan International Art Fair, both organizations have been supporting art exchanges by exhibiting works by Korean and Indian artists in both countries every year.
Director Rathi Jaffar introduced the center, saying, "The InKo Centre has 46 Korean companies and 6 to 8 Indian SMEs as member companies, and we are sponsored by TVS Motor, the third-largest motorcycle company in India, and the Indian subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company005380. By building partnerships in the areas of art, embassies, government, and industry, we engage in activities that promote friendship and goodwill between the two nations across various fields including visual arts, film, dance, music, ceramics, and general culture."
The Busan International Art Fair is central to this exchange. Director Jaffar explained, "K-Art and the InKo Centre introduce artists from both countries and hold exhibitions annually at the Busan International Art Fair and the Chennai Biennale in India." They also operate an exchange student program. Every August, Indian students visit Busan for a week to build friendships, participate in competitions, and hold exhibitions.
Around 100 contemporary Indian art pieces are on display at the Indian special exhibition prepared for the 2025 Eurasia Busan International Art Fair. Paintings by 75 artists from across India, showcasing a diverse range of materials, colors, and techniques, have captured the attention of visitors. Sobhan Kumar, Regional Secretary of the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai, who is also an artist, participated in this exhibition as well.
Mr. Kumar mentioned that he was well-acquainted with Korean art even before working at the Lalit Kala Akademi. He stated, "I met many Korean artists while studying ceramics in China. Korea has many high-caliber artists. Their work is always fresh and never fails to surprise me."
Mr. Kumar, who is visiting Busan for the second time, said that he also enjoyed the world-famous Busan International Film Festival and other art exhibitions. He added that the southern regions of both countries—Chennai in southern India and the Busan-Gyeongnam region in southern Korea—seem to possess a particularly keen artistic sensibility.
As non-profit and government organizations, the InKo Centre and the Lalit Kala Akademi place artists at the center of their operations rather than profit. Director Jaffar emphasized, "It is important to sell works, but it is also vital to provide proper information about the artists. Last year, 16 pieces were sold at the Busan International Art Fair, and 100% of the proceeds went to the artists. That is a key highlight of the Busan International Art Fair." This is possible because the Eurasia Busan International Art Fair serves as a direct marketplace between artists and art lovers.
Mr. Kumar pointed out the global trend of young collectors flocking to the art scene. "Collecting art has now become a huge business globally. India is currently one of the largest markets in the world, and the number of young collectors has increased. More money is flowing into art than film or music, and young people are taking up art collecting as a hobby." He noted that many seminars and discussions targeting young collectors are being held as well.
Introducing Korean artworks to this market every year essentially opens a wider door for Korean artists to reach the global stage.
Both individuals mentioned the K-wave blowing through India. Director Jaffar assessed, "As the K-wave—including K-dramas and K-food—spreads in India, interest in Korean art is also rising," adding that "Korean art is very fresh and unique." Mr. Kumar also noted, "I think we can approach it from various perspectives, such as connecting K-pop with exhibitions."
It seems we can look forward to a new encounter between K-culture and Indian art at next year's Eurasia Busan International Art Fair.