NEW DELHI.- The Škoda Prize, one of the most influential platforms for Indian contemporary art, hosted a party at Palette Art Gallery in the capital on 27th July 2012 and announced its jury for the third edition of the prize; the distinguished jury panel will include Anupam Poddar, co‐founder of the pioneering Devi Art Foundation, and leading Indian artist Sheela Gowda. The jury will be chaired by eminent Indian art historian and critic Geeta Kapur. Launched in 2009 by Škoda Auto India and 70EMG, The ŠKODA Prize is supported by museums and cultural institutions of international repute.
The Skoda Prize 2012 launch party was well attended by art enthusiasts, collectors, artists, curators, critics, and people from the fashion fraternity which included names like Ashok Vajpayee, Vivan Sundaram, Anjolie Ela Menon, Mithu Sen, Neha Kirpal, Alka Pandey, Blanca Peralta, GR Iranna, Sumat Jayakrishnan, Payal Kapoor, Tunty Chauhan, Manish Arora, Namrata Joshipura, Malini Ramani, Harmeet Bajaj, Amaan Ali Khan, Ramola Bachan, Amol Vadhera, Ambika Pillai, Joey Mathews, Reynu Tandon, A D Singh, Ayesha Thapar, Leena Singh, Matin D’costa, CEO, Seventy EMG, Jean-Marie Lagey, Director-Technical, Skoda Auto India and Sudhir Rao, MD, Skoda Auto India.
The Škoda Prize offers an unparalleled opportunity for mid-career artists across India to showcase their work amongst the country’s leading artists, to a discerning art audience both within India and internationally. The hugely successful top 20 exhibition, which receives thousands of visitors every year, showcases the most exciting trends in contemporary art practices in India and is representative of a diverse spectrum of established and emerging artists from across the country. The top 20 exhibition which is curated by Girish Shahane will open alongside the India Art Fair in New Delhi in February 2013. The top 20 longlisted artists also get an opportunity to be represented in the annual ŠKODA Prize book.
In 2011, The Škoda Prize platform was further extended to include a 'Breakthrough Artist Award’ to showcase emerging artists who are at the beginning of their careers and help them gain exposure to a wider audience. Madhuban Mitra and Manas Bhattacharya won the first Breakthrough Artist award and received a cash prize of INR 50,000. In 2012, this award will be presented in association with Art India magazine and the prize will include a cash prize of two lakh rupees as well as a trophy.
“We’re delighted to have onboard such a distinguished jury. We aim to build on the reputation the award has established as a benchmark of artistic quality, while also attracting new voices through the Breakthrough Artist Award". Girish Shahane, Director of Art, The Škoda Prize.
