The foreigners are coming…. And some of them are being welcomed with open palms! Close on the heels of the Vietnamese art exhibition, followed by renowned American artist, Kiki Smith's solo show, both at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai hosted other art events. Pakistani artist, Chand Saigol's Khajuraho Revisited, co-presented by Bernadette da Cunha at Gallery Beyond, London-based Russian artist Ivanov's solo show at Gallery Art & Soul and a group show featuring four Korean artists co-curated by Jasmine Shah Varma and Kim Kyongae at Hacienda Gallery - all ushered 2007 on an international note. So, is it the novelty of the exotic that is attracting art audiences to such shows or is there a more serious interest?

As always, independent curator, Ranjit Hoskote, has given the trend some thought. "Novelty seizes the attention, but a sober assessment of the investment value of an artefact drawn from a foreign context does come into play," he reflects, before presenting his succinct analysis of the reasons why foreign artists are increasingly choosing to show their work here. "The vast volume of capital that has come visibly into the Indian art world in recent years, has had the effect of identifying India as a serious art buying country. We see, today, a gradual interest in art from the rest of the world, among Indian collectors. And as though to take advantage of that emerging collector interest, artists from elsewhere are thinking seriously of India as a viewership to cultivate."

Ranjana Steinruecke of Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke agrees that "Indian collectors are now interested in informing themselves about international art trends and prices," but warns that "while a market can certainly be cultivated locally, just showing any 'phoren' artist is not the point." While her gallery's Vietnamese exhibition featured among others Tran Luong, the best known and most active, dynamic Vietnamese artist internationally after a thorough research on that country's art scene with the help of professionals and museums, Smith is an acknowledged art icon all over the world. "I think what would be great is if more fantastic exhibitions of major international contemporary art are held to shake up the local scene, create excitement, interest and a real dialogue," she deduces.