How Baro Market’s Affordable Indian Art pop up attempts to make art accessible and affordable

Jithin Vijayan
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For Srila Chatterjee, the founder and curator of Baro Market, an online store that curates works of artists, craftspeople and designers, art pervades every aspect of life and speaks to everyone. Srila’s view of art therefore is rather democratic. “It is not the purview of just a few people frequenting auctions and hallowed galleries. Art has to be accessible to everyone,” she adds. 

This is the driving force behind her Affordable Indian Art pop ups that travel to Indian cities showcasing the works of local artists and artisans from around the country. The pop up will be in Kochi from February 7 to 9 and Srila is excited to bring it to a city that is has a greater exposure to art than most other cities in India, thanks to the Kochi Muziris Biennale. “It is always interesting to go to a new city, people’s reactions to art works are different, the buying patterns are different. And Kerala is of special interest because people have the advantage of space; they have larger dwellings and an interest to adorn them,” she says.

The Baro Market was a physical store in Mumbai before COVID-19, which included everything from restored furniture to art, craft, accessories and more. After migrating to an online space, since 2020, it has taken the Affordable Indian Art pop ups to several Indian cities. “India has a centuries-old art and craft tradition and most of those engaged in art and craft are preserving these traditions. Ours is a space where these artists and craftspeople can find their buyers,” says Srila.

While adding to its repertoire of things — artworks, craft, products for the home, fashion, gifting — online, Srila says her experience with Baro Market has also been about meeting people and forming connections. ”That is the whole idea. To start conversations around art. Every art work has a story and we are always excited to share it. We now have people who approach us with their works and it makes me happy that we can offer a space to showcase such talent,“ says Srila.

Srila, who has been helming a production house for the past 25 years, has dabbled in the advertising, designing and fashion industries. She curated Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in its early years and co-founded Blue Frog, an iconic music space in Mumbai. She recently opened Gallery 47 A, a gallery for design, at the heritage village of Kotachiwadi in Girgaon, Mumbai, which hosts shows through the year.

The Affordable Indian art show in Kochi will feature a spectrum of modern contemporary art to traditional vintage pieces (₹2,000 upwards). The artists whose works will be on show include Kochi-based contemporary visual artist Ouso, Oriya Pattachitra artist Gitanjali Das, and Sohrai artist Manikchand Mahto. Sohrai is an ancient tribal art form from Jharkhand which uses natural pigments from organic materials.

Affordable Indian Art pop up will be held at David Hall, Fort Kochi from February 7 to 9.