Shaji Appukuttan - From Here To The Other Side

"India Contemporary curated by Veer Hooda" presents a rare opportunity for Collectors and Art lovers in Europe to acquire the original works of highly established Indian Contemporary Artists and create a connection with one of the most vibrant and fast growing art market in the world.

The Auction is curated by internationally acclaimed Indo-European artist - Veer Hooda - in collaboration with the highly esteemed NIV Art Center, New Delhi and available exclusively on Catawiki.

About the Artist: Shaji Appukuttan : ig @shaji_appukuttan

Shaji Appukuttan was born (1970) in Kerala. He completed his graduation from Government Fine Arts College, Trichur (1985-89). His recent solo exhibitions have been Symphony of Land in Lalithakala Academy Art Gallery, Kozhikkode (2017); Karuna in White Walls Art Gallery in Ernakulam, Kerala (curated by Radha Gomathy); and Spiritual Earth in Durbar Hall Gallery, Ernakulam in Kerala. He has also exhibited in Lokame Tharavadu (the world is one family) in Alappuzha, curated by Bose Krishnamachari, for Kochi Biennale Foundation (2021).

He has been honored with several prestigious awards, and is regarded as one of the top contemporary artists from the South Indian state of Kerela, his awards include the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi State Award in 1992 and the Siddhartha Foundation Award in 2018. Additionally, he was awarded a grant from the Jackson Pollock Krasner Foundation in New York for 2020-21. Recently, he held a solo exhibition titled Ghost Trees at the Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery in Payyannur, Kannur (2023). Appukuttan has also curated a group show, Rustic Footmarks, at the Durbar Hall Art Center, featuring the works of 29 prominent Indian artists. His art practice delves into geopolitics, not as an extravagant spectacle, but as a fundamental existential issue which is crucial for planetary survival. These planetary concerns are ever-present in his consciousness, permeating both the foreground and background of his paintings. For him, the social existence of hills, rivers, and forests parallels the essence of human relationships, and this interconnectedness resonates symbolically throughout his work. Currently lives and works in Ernakulam.

Highlight Solo Exhibitions:

Ghost Trees (2023): Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Payyannur, Kannur.
Symphony of Land (2021): Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Kozhikode.
Karuna (2022): White Walls Art Gallery, Ernakulam (Curated by Radha Gomathy).
Spiritual Earth (2015): Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Ernakulam.

Earlier Shows:
Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Ernakulam (1997).
Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Kozhikode (1994).
Guruvayur Library Hall (1992).

Group Exhibitions & Curatorial Projects
Experiential Landscapes (2024): A group show featuring his work at Latitude 28, New Delhi.
Lokame Tharavadu (2021): A major Kochi Biennale Foundation show in Alappuzha, curated by Bose Krishnamachari.
Rustic Footmarks (2020): Curated by Shaji Appukuttan at Durbar Hall Art Center, featuring 29 Indian artists.
Cochin Art Fair (2017): MNF Foundation, Edappally.
Small is Big (2013): Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Ernakulam.
Epiques Art Gallery (2004): New Delhi


About Veer Hooda :  ig : @vi_hov

Veer Hooda is an Indo-European (Austrian) contemporary artist based in Vienna, whose practice is shaped by a deep connection to his Indian roots and a great love for his now home, Europe.

Veer Hooda has exhibited across some of the top galleries and exhibitions across the world and has recently finished his sold-out show in Miami Art Basel 2025, this year (2026) 2he will be exhibiting in, among other highly esteemed exhibitions, Venice Biennale 2026, ArtExpo New York 2026, multiple exhibitions across Europe and Austria and returning to Art Basel Miami at the end of the year.  

While his own work reflects a strong conceptual and material sensibility developed through years of creative and professional experience, Hooda is equally driven by a clear mission: to make outstanding Indian artistic talent more visible and accessible within the European art market.

Positioned between India and Europe, Hooda acts as a cultural bridge, offering early access to artists and narratives that are quickly gaining significant international recognition already — making his curatorial and artistic vision a distinct insider perspective at a pivotal moment for Indian Contemporary Art.


About NIV Art Center: ig : @nivartcentre

NIV Art Centre is a leading contemporary art institution based in New Delhi, dedicated to advancing arts, films and new media practices within a global framework. With a strong national cultural vision and an international outlook, NIV serves as a dynamic platform for artistic research, production, and exchange.

Through its international residency program, NIV brings together Indian and global artists, offering professional studio spaces and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration within one of Asia’s most influential metropolitan art environments.

NIV functions as a connector across the art ecosystem—linking artists, institutions, and audiences—and stands as a hub for cultural dialogue, innovation, and global artistic engagement.

 
The collaboration between Veer Hooda & NIV Art Center:

An exclusive collaboration between Veer Hooda and NIV Art Center, marks a decisive step in bringing leading Indian contemporary artists to the European art market through curated exchange and long-term collaboration.

India’s contemporary art scene is experiencing an exceptional moment—dynamic, intellectual, with many voices, and rapidly growing in both global visibility and investment value. With increasing interest from international collectors and institutions, this is a compelling time for European collectors to engage with Indian Contemporary Art at a pivotal stage of its global ascent.

For this collaboration, Veer Hooda personally curates a selection of outstanding works by established Indian Contemporary Artists in collaboration with NIV, chosen for their artistic depth, originality, and long-term relevance. Each artwork reflects the strength and diversity of today’s Indian art landscape while resonating with an international collector base.

The curated works will be offered exclusively via auction on Catawiki, providing European collectors and art lovers direct access to museum-level Indian Contemporary Art through a trusted international platform.

This collaboration is not just an exhibition—it is a gateway: a carefully curated introduction of India’s most compelling Contemporary Voices to Europe’s collectors, at a moment when the market is vibrant, forward-moving, and full of opportunity.


About the Artwork:

Name: From Here To The Other Side

Year: 2025

Size: 4 feet (122 cm) x 5 feet (152 cm) x 4 cm

Technique: Rice paper and Pigment on Canvas

Signed and Authenticity: All works are hand signed by the artist and a signed Certificate of Authenticity for all works will be provided by NIV Art Center.

Packaging: The painting will be packaged professionally and shipped rolled in a tube.

Duties and import: The import duties on original artworks to most EU countries is 0%, however some countries may apply an Import VAT of 5-12% and/or clearance fees which has to be paid by the buyer before delivery, this has to be done online in most cases through the service of the delivery company. This is a fairly simple process, however, we will gladly assist if needed with anything.