S Raghu - Airborne

"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:

S. Raghu is a contemporary Indian artist whose practice explores the symbolic and psychological potential of colour and form as tools for social reflection. His work engages with themes of identity, marginalisation, and the subtle politics of everyday existence, often addressing how human consciousness is shaped by cultural, social, and environmental forces.

During his residency at NIV Center for Art (2012), Raghu developed a body of work that examined the relationship between inner experience and external structures, using carefully controlled compositions and restrained visual language. His paintings reflect a contemplative process, where colour fields and figurative elements interact to evoke emotional depth and quiet tension rather than overt narrative.

Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, Raghu’s visual approach balances minimalism with symbolism, inviting viewers into a space of introspection. His work does not seek immediate resolution, but instead encourages prolonged engagement—allowing meaning to unfold through observation, memory, and personal interpretation.

Through his practice, S. Raghu positions painting as a medium of reflection and resistance, using visual subtlety to question systems of perception, belonging, and continuity in contemporary life.

S. Raghu has presented his work through a growing range of exhibitions, curated presentations, and institutional platforms across India, gaining steady visibility for a practice grounded in introspection and social commentary. His participation in group exhibitions and residency-led showcases has situated his paintings within contemporary discourses on identity, perception, marginalisation, and human vulnerability, allowing his work to engage meaningfully with broader cultural and psychological concerns.

A significant moment in his exhibition trajectory was the presentation of works developed during the NIV Center for Art Residency, where his paintings were exhibited as part of the residency outcome, marking a period of focused research and conceptual refinement.

These exhibitions highlighted Raghu’s mature engagement with colour as an emotional field, symbolism as a quiet narrative device, and space as a psychological construct rather than a literal setting.

Across these exhibitions, Raghu’s work has been noted for its restrained visual language and contemplative tone, offering viewers an experience that unfolds slowly through stillness and subtle tension. Rather than overt spectacle, his exhibited works consistently invite sustained viewing—positioning painting as a site for reflection, emotional resonance, and critical awareness within the contemporary art context.


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 : @nivartcenter

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:

Artist: S. Raghu

Name: Airborne

Year: 2020

Size: 90 cm x 120 cm x 3 cm

Technique: Acrylic & Oil 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 & Insurance: The painting will be packaged professionally and shipped rolled in a tube. The Artwork is fully insured on the way to the buyer.

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.