New Delhi, 17 July 2024: The prestigious Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize announced ‘Tantra on the Edge – Inspirations and Experiments in Twentieth-Century Indian Art’ by art historian Madhu Khanna, published by DAG, as the winner of its second edition. The award ceremony was hosted by the H.E Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India and Sri Lanka, underscoring the significance of this literary accolade.

Instituted in collaboration with Visual Arts Gallery in 2022, Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is India’s only prize that recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of art books. Madhu Khanna and DAG were felicitated with the trophy, certificate and 1 Lakh Indian Rupees cash prize by the Chair of Jury Dr. Alka Pande; Ambassador of Norway to India and Sri Lanka, H.E Ms. May-Elin Stener and Ms. Sunaina Anand, Founder and Director, Art Alive Gallery in the presence of artists, gallerists, designers, publishers, authors, diplomats and literary enthusiasts from the industry.

In addition to the winning title, the jurors appreciated two more titles: Shilpa Shah & Rosemary Crill’s The Shoemaker’s Stitch: Mochi embroideries of Gujarat in the TAPI Collection published by Niyogi Books and Thota Vaikuntam’s Thota Vaikuntam: A Celebration published by Aleph Book Company.

Speaking at the ceremony, the winner Madhu Khanna said, “Receiving this award from the Oxford Bookstore is a momentous occasion in our history. It is a testimony to the excellent leadership of Apeejay Surrendra Group for recognizing the contribution of many leading artists of the last century, who were least acknowledged, but marginalized by the mainstream. I hail their effort for acknowledging the path breaking exhibition and book ‘Tantra on the Edge – Inspirations and Experiments in Twentieth Century in Indian Art’ launched by DAG. I am profoundly grateful to Ashish Anand and DAG for the excellent publication. Writing this book has been a journey of passion, and dedication. As we move into the 21st century torn by violence and ecological degradation, we must reclaim the spiritual heritage of Tantra and Yoga inherited from the anonymous Shilpi-yogins and sage-scholars of the past. It is because of their legacy that we are able to celebrate today, the timeless-modernism of Tantra Art and its philosophy”.

“It has been an exciting journey of collaborating with my fellow jurors in the selection of the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize Winner. An interesting diversity of artistic expression across mediums, disciplines, and visual culture was showcased within the nominated works. Picking a winner from the pool of fascinating works was a challenging task, but ultimately, ‘Tantra on the Edge’ rose to the top. The jury also recognized two other exceptional titles, ‘The Shoemaker’s Stitch’ was praised for its meticulous research, while, ‘Thota Vaikuntam’ impressed the jury as it honours some of the most significant works of the artist till date and the richness of Thota Vaikuntham’s colour palette. For that matter all these three titles are a valuable addition to any art enthusiast’s library”, said the Chair of Jury, Dr. Alka Pande while announcing the winner.

Celebrating the announcement of the winner and speaking about the award, Ambassador of Norway to India and Sri Lanka, H.E Ms. May-Elin Stener said, “For me, being a part of this jury is also in line with Norway’s sustained and renewed focus on art and culture. At home in Oslo, we are increasingly looking at promoting art and culture as a cherished export of Norway, one that comes with a strong foundation and rich heritage. Norway also strongly advocates for artistic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of expression. By being a part of this prize, we at the Embassy, are delighted to contribute to the art world in India”.

The Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize is awarded annually to recognize and celebrate excellence in art book publishing. It is committed to fostering excellence in art book publishing and promoting a deeper appreciation for the visual arts. The prize aims to celebrate books that not only showcase exceptional artistic content but also demonstrate innovative and engaging approaches to presentation, design, storytelling and production in the field. The first edition of the Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize was awarded to Satyabrata Rout for the book ‘Scenography: An Indian Perspective’ published by Niyogi Books.

The jury commissioned for the second edition of the prize includes Ambassador of Norway to India and Sri Lanka, H.E Ms. May-Elin Stener; Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and the creative force behind Oxford Bookstores, Ms. Priti Paul; Museum curator, art historian, author and jury chair, Dr. Alka Pande; Director General, Bihar Museum, Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh; and Founder and Director, Art Alive Gallery, Ms. Sunaina Anand. The jury selected the winner from the highly competitive pool of entries.

The shortlisted titles of the second edition include:

1. Title- The Shoemaker’s Stitch: Mochi embroideries of Gujarat in the Tapi Collection

Publisher- Niyogi Books

Author/ Artist – Shilpa Shah & Rosemary Crill

2. Title- Paachakam- Heritage Cuisine of Kerala

Publisher- Roli Books

Author/ Artist – Sabita Radhakrishna

3. Title- Thota Vaikuntam- A Celebration

Publisher- Aleph Book Company

Author/ Artist – Thota Vaikuntam

4. Title- Tantra on the Edge: Inspirations and Experiments in Twentieth Century Indian

Publisher- DAG

Author/ Artist – Madhu Khanna

5. Title- Insurgency and The Artist- The Art of the Freedom Struggle in India

Publisher- Roli Books

Author/ Artist- Vinay Lal

6. Title- International Gallerie

Publisher- Gallerie Publishers

Author/ Artist- Bina Sarkar Ellias