Asia Now Selects: Vamsi Dukkipati
Collector Vamsi Dukkipati selects artworks from this year's edition of Asia NOW on Artsy.
There is actually a great deal borrowed from eastern culture in the traditions of calligraphy and body art. In this specific instance with the torso, the power is in the symbolism of Asian motifs. It is often an overlooked way that Asian culture has penetrated the American contemporary zeitgeist.
This eerie image of a Snow White figure, dripping blood as a result of feasting on flesh is a mix of storybook with dungeon. The delicate medium belies the subject matter.
This abstractly reminds me of Monet’s waterlilies, but in an Asian, saturated color and textural way. Diana Vreeland, the editor of Bazaar once said that “hot pink was the navy blue of India”. The layers of vibrant hues dance together so seamlessly they almost blend like neutrals.
The cutting up of the female form here is an accurate telling of how women are often subject to evaluation by body part. It creates a dialogue with the viewer that how can a being be appreciated as a whole, if they are dissected by thoughts into pieces.
The hands have such deep power and presence here. The gesture of them feels like surrender, but the depiction of them in multiples and blurred context of from whom they stem, draws you into the image.
This is a companion image to a performance piece by the artist from my understanding. There is a tension between the gentle gesture of being lifted by one straining against the tension of being held down by the others.
This captures the tension between art and craft in Asia, where often the former borrows from the latter and the lines become blurred in a warholesque way.
The woman in the image seems to be struggling between being consumed be the tree or smothered by the plastic. The fragility of our humanity is well expressed here.
You don’t have to be a fan to appreciate the denial of gravity here in the athlete that defies it. As a society we create heroes to worship that entertain us while simultaneously capturing poignant possibility.
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Vamsi Dukkipati is a private collector specializing in contemporary art from China and India, with a keen interest in post-war design editioned works. As the founder and manager of a successful art fund, Vamsi has dedicated her career to promoting emerging artists and facilitating access to diverse artistic expressions. Her expertise lies not only in curating collections but also in creating sustainable avenues for investment in art. In her latest endeavor, she is pioneering the tokenization of art, aimed at expanding markets and enhancing accessibility for a new generation of collectors. By collaborating with museums and art institutions, she is building innovative solutions that bridge the gap between traditional collecting and digital ownership, ensuring that art remains relevant and inclusive.
