In the Nineties, when the artwork market in India was nonetheless nascent, Alka Raghuvanshi made a mark as a author who promoted each veterans and younger expertise, doing her bit to take Indian artwork to world shores. She would later be a part of the fraternity as an artist and curator who inspired the confluence of numerous artwork kinds.
Raghuvanshi breathed her final in Delhi on Wednesday, weeks after being recognized with pneumonia. She was 60.
“Her Covid report was negative and she was recovering well and then this sudden demise,” mentioned Bharatnatyam dancer Prathibha Prahlad, considered one of Raghuvanshi’s shut associates.
Artist Manish Pushkale mentioned: “The art world has been losing several of its pillars in recent times. Alka’s demise is a huge loss. I remember how as an art writer she would encourage youngsters through her writing and would also help them build connections.”
Prahlad recalled how Raghuvanshi took a eager curiosity in several artwork kinds, constructing in-depth information in every. “She was the kindest, most generous, and loyal friend I have had. Extremely inspiring, she went out of her way to help others,” mentioned Prahlad. “She knew the art scene really well, from dancers to musicians and painters. Through her initiative ‘Ehsaas’, she wanted art to reach out to more people. A textile expert, she translated paintings onto fabrics, saris, and scarves and shawls, and several of us walked the ramp for her.”
Raghuvanshi painted in newer years and likewise educated in curation from Goldsmiths College, London, and the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford. She participated in exhibitions the world over and curated a number of of them.
She labored as a journalist in quite a few information publications, together with The Indian Express. Raghuvanshi additionally has to her credit score quite a few books, together with A Moment in Time with Legends of Indian Arts (1996), Odissi, the Dance Divine (2007), and Pathfinders: Artistes of One World (2002). “In the ’90s, as an art editor, she had a presence in the art world. She would speak her mind and challenged existing ideologies,” mentioned Renu Modi, director of Gallery Espace.