TALK | SIAC "Whose Contemporary? India: From Heritage to Global Arts"
Moderated by Dr. Annette Bhagwati. Panelists: Shireen Gandhy, Dr. Amin Jaffer, Asvin E. Rajagopalan, and Damian Christinger.
For Zurich Art Weekend 2026, Swiss Indian Arts Collaborative (SIAC) in collaboration with Contemporary Now, convenes a distinguished group of Indian curators, gallerists and cultural leaders whose work has established the significance of Indian art globally.
The panel is an insider’s take on contemporary art in India, and spotlights how local traditions meet global influences.
The talk will be held in English and is free and open to the public, with RSVP recommended.
The event will take place at 14:00 at schwarzescafé | Luma Westbau, Löwenbräukunst, Limmatstrasse 270, 8005 Zurich.
Meet the Panelists:
Dr. Amin Jaffer — Is an art historian, curator, and museum director known for his expertise in decorative arts, Islamic art, and the cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia. He has held senior roles at major institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and currently serves as Director of the Al Thani Collection. He is the curator of the India Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Senior Curator of the Al Thani Collection with a focus on the meeting of European and Asian cultures.
Ashvin E. Rajagopalan — Is a curator and cultural strategist specializing in modern and devotional art, serving as Director of Ashvita’s Gallery in Chennai, and Chief Curator at the Piramal Museum of Art, Mumbai. He has curated landmark retrospectives and exhibitions, spotlighting both established and emerging artists across South India.
Shireen Gandhy — Director of Chemould Prescott Road, the pioneering Mumbai gallery. She is a key figure in shaping modern and contemporary Indian art. She is known for nurturing leading artists and championing experimental, interdisciplinary practices on both Indian and global stages.
Damian Christinger — Swiss curator and cultural strategist active between Switzerland and India and has worked for Pro Helvetia’s international cultural exchange and program development.
Meet the Moderator:
Dr. Annette Bhagwati — Annette Bhagwati is the Director of Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland. She studied Anthropology, African Art and Literature, Art History, and Geography in Freiburg im Breisgau, Berlin, and London and received her PhD at the School of African and Oriental Studies London. From 2012 to autumn 2019 she worked at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin where she headed various curatorial, long-term research projects. From 2009 to 2012 Annette Bhagwati taught Anthropology of Art, Museology, and History of Exhibiting Non-Western Art at the Department of Art History at Concordia University, Montreal. Countries she visits for research and study purposes include Benin, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Canada.
About Swiss Indian Arts Collaborative (SIAC)
SIAC is a new Zurich-based platform that enables cross-cultural exchange on Indian contemporary arts. SIAC creates a space for dialogue between artists, curators, and practitioners, expanding global perspectives through a range of contemporary expression. SIAC’s founders, four Zurich-based friends with longstanding personal and professional ties to India, are here to celebrate India’s rich artistic heritage and its creative evolution. The initiative invites new ways for Swiss and global audiences to connect with India's cultural landscape.
Moderated by Dr. Annette Bhagwati. Panelists: Shireen Gandhy, Dr. Amin Jaffer, Asvin E. Rajagopalan, and Damian Christinger.
For Zurich Art Weekend 2026, Swiss Indian Arts Collaborative (SIAC) in collaboration with Contemporary Now, convenes a distinguished group of Indian curators, gallerists and cultural leaders whose work has established the significance of Indian art globally.
The panel is an insider’s take on contemporary art in India, and spotlights how local traditions meet global influences.
The talk will be held in English and is free and open to the public, with RSVP recommended.
The event will take place at 14:00 at schwarzescafé | Luma Westbau, Löwenbräukunst, Limmatstrasse 270, 8005 Zurich.
Meet the Panelists:
Dr. Amin Jaffer — Is an art historian, curator, and museum director known for his expertise in decorative arts, Islamic art, and the cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia. He has held senior roles at major institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and currently serves as Director of the Al Thani Collection. He is the curator of the India Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Senior Curator of the Al Thani Collection with a focus on the meeting of European and Asian cultures.
Ashvin E. Rajagopalan — Is a curator and cultural strategist specializing in modern and devotional art, serving as Director of Ashvita’s Gallery in Chennai, and Chief Curator at the Piramal Museum of Art, Mumbai. He has curated landmark retrospectives and exhibitions, spotlighting both established and emerging artists across South India.
Shireen Gandhy — Director of Chemould Prescott Road, the pioneering Mumbai gallery. She is a key figure in shaping modern and contemporary Indian art. She is known for nurturing leading artists and championing experimental, interdisciplinary practices on both Indian and global stages.
Damian Christinger — Swiss curator and cultural strategist active between Switzerland and India and has worked for Pro Helvetia’s international cultural exchange and program development.
Meet the Moderator:
Dr. Annette Bhagwati — Annette Bhagwati is the Director of Museum Rietberg in Zurich, Switzerland. She studied Anthropology, African Art and Literature, Art History, and Geography in Freiburg im Breisgau, Berlin, and London and received her PhD at the School of African and Oriental Studies London. From 2012 to autumn 2019 she worked at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin where she headed various curatorial, long-term research projects. From 2009 to 2012 Annette Bhagwati taught Anthropology of Art, Museology, and History of Exhibiting Non-Western Art at the Department of Art History at Concordia University, Montreal. Countries she visits for research and study purposes include Benin, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Canada.
About Swiss Indian Arts Collaborative (SIAC)
SIAC is a new Zurich-based platform that enables cross-cultural exchange on Indian contemporary arts. SIAC creates a space for dialogue between artists, curators, and practitioners, expanding global perspectives through a range of contemporary expression. SIAC’s founders, four Zurich-based friends with longstanding personal and professional ties to India, are here to celebrate India’s rich artistic heritage and its creative evolution. The initiative invites new ways for Swiss and global audiences to connect with India's cultural landscape.
Good to know
Highlights
- 1 hour
- In person
Location
LUMA Westbau, Schwarzescafé
270 Limmatstrasse
8005 Zürich
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