Contemporary Now – Edition III Opens with Citywide Preview, Conversations and Cultural Exchange Across Chennai

Contemporary Now – Edition III opened today with it’s official VIP Preview today, that brought together artists, galleries, collectors, cultural leaders and members of the media for a day of exhibitions, conversations and special previews across Chennai, marking the beginning of the platform’s citywide programme running until 25 August 2026.

The day commenced with an exclusive VIP Preview at Lalit Kala Akademi, where guests experienced Practices in Continuum: The Work and the World, the flagship exhibition of Contemporary Now – Edition III. Bringing together presentations from Project 88, Vadehra Art Gallery, Experimenter, TARQ, Chatterjee & Lal, Chemould Prescott Road and Ashvita’s, the exhibition explores contemporary artistic practices through themes of identity, ecology, memory, politics, materiality and cultural change, while encouraging audiences to engage deeply with the ideas and contexts that shape contemporary art today.

Reflecting Contemporary Now’s vision as a citywide platform rather than a single exhibition, today’s programme extended beyond Lalit Kala Akademi to venues across Chennai, creating opportunities for audiences to experience contemporary art through conversation and collaboration.

A highlight of the day was the panel discussion, “From Mylapore to Mumbai (and Beyond): The Cultural South in the Context of Contemporary Art,” held at Ashvita’s Flagship. Featuring Ashvin E. Rajagopalan, Director, Contemporary Now; Founder, Ashvita’s; and Director, Piramal Art Foundation, K. Benitha Perciyal, and Mortimer Chatterjee of Chatterjee & Lal, in conversation with Prasad Ramamurthy, the discussion explored the growing significance of southern India in shaping contemporary artistic practice, institutions, audiences and collecting. The conversation underscored Contemporary Now’s commitment to creating meaningful dialogue alongside exhibition-making and highlighted Chennai’s expanding role within India’s contemporary art landscape.

The day’s programme also included an Open House at Ashvita’s Archival and Conservation Centre, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at conservation practices and archival work, alongside an exclusive preview of Unruly Bodies: Sighting the Body Politic from the Avtar Collection, curated by Suchitra Vijayan and presented by the Avtar Foundation for the Arts at Alliance Française of Madras. Together, these programmes reflected Contemporary Now’s commitment to expanding conversations around contemporary art beyond the exhibition space through collaborations with institutions and cultural partners.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashvin E. Rajagopalan, Director, Contemporary Now, said:

“Contemporary Now · Edition III invites collectors to look beyond the artwork as an individual object and encounter the larger practice from which it emerges. By bringing together leading galleries, artists, institutions and audiences across Chennai, we hope to create meaningful encounters with the practices shaping our present and strengthen the city’s position within India’s contemporary art ecosystem.”

Priyanjoli Basu, Director, Contemporary Now, added:

“Edition III reflects the diversity of contemporary artistic practice today while creating new opportunities for audiences to engage with art through exhibitions, conversations and collaborations across the city. We hope these shared experiences encourage curiosity, learning and deeper connections with contemporary culture.”

Running until 25 August 2026, Contemporary Now – Edition III continues with exhibitions and public programmes across Chennai, inviting audiences to experience contemporary art through multiple perspectives, spaces and conversations. Bringing together leading galleries, artists and cultural institutions, the platform reinforces Chennai’s emergence as an important centre for contemporary art, learning and cultural exchange.

Contemporary Now – Edition III
Dates: 8–25 August 2026
Main Exhibition: Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai

Citywide Programmes: Ashvita’s Flagship, Ashvita’s Campus, Alliance Française of Madras, Raw Mango, Apparao Galleries, Gallery Veda, and partner venues across Chennai.