“As the West opens its gallery doors to our art, it takes the baton further for Indian art to run its second phase. This means serious business like price correction, infrastructure and awareness building and more art education,” says Poddar as she prepares for her PowerPoint presentation at Galerie Steinruke+Mirchandani.

The Guggenheim is looking at Japan, China, Thailand, Korea and Indonesia in East Asia. In South Asia, it will be India, Pakistan and Iran. “While the Guggenheim in New York will be the headquarters for the Asian Art Initiative (headed by its senior curator Alexandra Munroe), the thrust is more on outreach with travelling shows to cities like Berlin, Bilbao and Vegas. We want to convey that art is not tied down by geography,” says Poddar, whose mother Rashmi Poddar is known for starting a dynamic dialogue about art at with the Asian Art Society Jnanapravaha, Prescott Road.

More excitement afoot in the art world as 25 trustees of the Arts Council from the Guggenheim are due to visit in March. “The Asia Art Institute is looking at stepping up the archiving procedures of Indian art, beginning curatorial courses and developing new ways of positioning Indian art following the Chinese module,” says Poddar. While the interest in art in India and China is surging due to the flourishing economy, the pricing needs to be put in perspective.

“There is a complete dearth of critical writing on Indian art, both locally and internationally. Where are the next generation of writers and curators?” says Poddar.

She also points out that while she would much rather stay and work in India, it is in cities like New York where art is taken as seriously as it should be. “We must realise that art and culture is as basic to the growth of the city as your roads and sea-links. It is in effect an ambassador for the country abroad,” she says vehemently.

Poddar points out that though MOMA and the Tate Modern have shown keenness in promoting Indian art, such activities have so far been sporadic and project based. “One has to move beyond survey shows and the exotic India. Artists like Anish Kapoor or Sudarshan Shetty are valued for work and not their Indianess,” she says.