The cover of the Namaste.ai inflight magazine features an original work by Maity set in Varanasi titled ‘Morning Glory’. The work captures the energy and vitality of a city that has long been considered a symbol of India’s rich culture spanning arts, music, crafts and dance. In the cover story, artist extraordinaire Maity opens up about the medium closest to his heart – watercolour – a medium he refers to as a metaphor for life itself, free-flowing, versatile and filled with possibilities.
Beyond the cover story, the edition brings together the voices and trends that shape today’s art landscape. Noted art curator Kishore Singh interviews one of India’s foremost art collectors, Kiran Nadar on her sustained efforts to make art accessible to a wider audience. A detailed piece by Max Hollein, Director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York examines how we can embrace new technologies like artificial intelligence while preserving the wonder of art. Renowned scenographer, art curator and Padma Bhushan awardee Rajeev Sethi explores how airports are increasingly becoming cultural spaces and new-age museums for people to appreciate art in its purest form. We take this up a notch with an insider guide on the world’s most art-forward airports and major global art festivals and fairs. Art critic Dr Alka Pande offers a beginner’s guide to investing in art while art historian Dr Meera Dass beautifully narrates how Air India built a significant art collection and strategically wove art into its identity over time.
With this specially curated ‘Art Edition’ coming out in the New Year, it serves as a reminder that the airline is not just about flying people across borders, but also serving as a cultural ambassador to the world, reinforcing its vision of becoming a world-class airline with Indian warmth.
