The Writer’s Flight

In a Q&A, the chairperson of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art says people have not only had more time to explore art, but also more money to invest in this segment Namrata Kohli Kiran Nadar, chairperson, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) Kiran Nadar, Chairperson, Kiran Nadar  Museum  of Art (KNMA) and a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, is an avid art collector, an acclaimed international bridge player and a philanthropist. In an exclusive with Namrata Kohli, she talks about the change the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the art world. Excerpts: What has the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic been on the world of art? Has there been a it price correction of sorts in the art market? We have lost the footfalls, people aren't visiting the museums, all presentations have gone online and we have been presenting the works from shows in the virtual world. But you raised a point on the price of art. Surprisingly, the price has not come down especially in the case of better-known art...

The first rule is to pick up something you can live with for a lifetime. If you're into collecting as an investment, what matters as much as the artwork is its creator and previous owners Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi T here is growing demand for leading modern masters such as MF Husain, VS Gaitonde, SH Raza and FN Souza, Prabhakar Barwe, KK Hebbar, Amrita Sher-Gil. Take a look at this artwork titled ‘The Red Road’ by F N Souza Source: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA)   Art is his psychotropic fix--the more he gets, the more he wants. Novelist Jeffrey Archer, in fact, says one of the reasons he writes is so that he can collect impressionist  paintings. What can one expect in terms of themes, moods and subjects in a post-pandemic scenario? The  paintings  represent an outpouring of pain and grief at one end, and a ‘golden’ period of reflection and self-discovery at the other. Yet, the art world went into crisis in the time of Covid-19, with purchas...

Modern digital and electronic home safety systems help secure your loved ones and your wealth at home in the post-pandemic era, while allowing you to stay connected with the outside world Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi There are several safety devices for your home, such as key locks, and pin code and fingerprint-recognising locks. Today, even your smartphone can help monitor your main door while you're away at work Modern  security  and safety products give you full control of your space even while you are miles away from home. You can use your phone to monitor your main door, respond to a doorbell or interact with visitors in real time. There are solutions that allow you to do all this through a host of options: keys, codes, and livestream verification. Says 47-year-old Delhi-based housewife Pinki Shukla: “I was tired of staying at home just to receive a package or wait for the service guys. Now, with a video door phone and live streaming on my cell, I can allo...

A cultural symbol and style statement for Indian women, it is no longer limited to weddings and family occasions, but has begun extending to work wear, corporate meetings and cocktail parties too Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Sarees suit all body types and come in casual, official, festive, traditional and wedding-ready avatars. Picture Courtesy: Ritu Kumar You're sure to find female colleagues sporting one to office on the odd day. The typical Indian woman will have a clutch of designer and/or special regional sarees tucked away in some corner at home, that she can flaunt at weddings and other family occasions. In fact the six- or nine-yard fabric remain her most flattering garment for its propensity to lend that certain kind of Indian-ness that the salwar-kameez simply can't. For starters, sarees aren't just stretches of cloth to be draped around the waist. They evoke memories of mothers and grandmothers wearing them at milestone events. Every piece tells a fascinating ...

The future of EVs in India may ride on two-wheelers, which are getting electrified much faster than cars. These vehicles help you save nearly 40% on TCO or total cost of ownership Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   Naveen Munjal, MD, Hero Electric, is betting big on electric two-wheelers for their long-term cost advantage, convenience of charging portable batteries at home and eco-friendliness E-mobility is the one subject comedian and TV prankster Ashton Kutcher doesn't joke about. An ardent user of electric scooters, he feels they are the future of green travel. Ditto for Justin Bieber who is spotted frequently taking to California's streets on his e-scooter.  Electric vehicles  are green since they reduce pollution significantly. They are no longer a futuristic idea as people are beginning to explore them in some way or the other. There is no bigger market for two-wheelers in the world than India. Yet we sold just 120,000 electric two-wheelers (e-2W) in 201...