Friday, Feb 07, 2025 10:02:10
- ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission winner artist-duo Non-Linear and Cursorama to create an immersive installation ‘Biolume’ responding to the theme of ‘Ecocentrism’.
- BMW Art Talk – ‘From Introspection to Impact: Artists Shaping the World’ with Shirazeh Houshiary, Bharti Kher and Pushpamala N.
(L-R) Artists Dennis Peters and Yash Chandak with Jaya Asokan, Fair Director at India Art Fair and Prof. Dr. Thomas Girst, Global Head, BMW Group Cultural Engagement
Gurugram. BMW Group India is the presenting partner of the 16th edition of India Art Fair, which will take place from 6 – 9 February 2025 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi. India Art Fair is the leading platform showcasing modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia and convenes audiences to explore a record 120 exhibitors, including 78 galleries, presented alongside major regional and international art institutions. The fair welcomes 26 new exhibitors, including seven new design studios. The expanded design section features eleven eminent design studios from India and beyond. For its biggest edition yet, India Art Fair continues in its mission to showcase the very best of South Asian art alongside major contemporary international artists and collectible design by pioneering studios, reinforcing its position as the leading site for discovery of art and culture in the region.
Mr. Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “BMW Group India is a steadfast champion of the arts and cultural landscape across India. We take immense pride in our creative collaboration with the India Art Fair, as it continues to champion India’s diverse and thriving contemporary arts landscape. Our shared vision for a future that is both creative and sustainable is perfectly encapsulated by the latest edition of ‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission. This groundbreaking initiative explores how the harmonious integration of ecological and technological thinking can create a more sustainable, balanced, and regenerative world – all through the captivating lens of an artist’s vision. We eagerly await the opportunity to welcome audiences from India and around the globe at the fair, where they will experience the transformative power of art and technology, united in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.”
‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission
‘The Future is Born of Art’ Commission, led by BMW India and India Art Fair is an annual commission designed to platform a promising young Indian artist on a global stage. Now in its fourth edition, the 2025 Commission invited emerging artists to propose an immersive installation centred around BMW iX1 LWB, MINI Countryman Electric and BMW Motorrad CE 02 and BMW Motorrad CE 04, reflecting on the theme of ‘Ecocentrism’. ‘Ecocentrism’ puts forward a worldview in which ecological and technological thinking coexist, imagining visions for a brighter, more sustainable future.
As winners of the prestigious ‘Future is Born of Art’ Commission, led by BMW and India Art Fair, Non-Linear (Dennis Peter) and Cursorama (Yash Chandak) join the ranks of India’s most promising artistic voices. The annual commission challenges emerging artists to create large-scale installations that explore topical themes built on shared values of BMW and India Art Fair. Previous winners, Sashikanth Thavudoz (2024), Devika Sundar (2023) and Faiza Hasan (2022), have set the stage with visionary works exploring community, materiality and ecology.
Non-Linear and Cursorama’s winning project, Biolume, is an ambitious 180-degree multimedia experience inspired by bioluminescent organisms. With interactive screens that respond to audience movements, the installation creates a feedback loop between human actions and their immersive environment. The space is filled with original sound, ranging from serene melodies to glitchy soundscapes.
The installation has three dynamic scenes:
The Surface: Hypnotic interplay of coastal waves and glowing organisms
The Depths: Pulsating forms and evolving networks mimicking underwater life
The Electric Abyss: A futuristic landscape merging organic and mechanical forms
Biolume integrates generative design and biomimicry to place audiences inside an abstracted, glowing oceanic world. “Bioluminescence is nature’s sci-fi—a glowing, electric language that exists in harmony with its surroundings,” Peter explains. The project underscores the role of art as a tool for fostering ecological and social dialogue. “As artists, we see it as our responsibility to reflect on how technology and art can inspire change,” says the duo.
