India, Feb. 4 -- There was a time in the Indian subcontinent when all art production was meant for public viewing. Places of faith to memorials to mourn were also platforms that showcased art - murals, reliefs and sculptures to musical and dance performances - that the public, while mediated and restricted by social institutions such as caste, accessed and appreciated. In modern times, they moved to museums and galleries, where, increasingly, the viewership got limited to chosen communities, with a clear divide emerging between the cultural elites and the masses. Art also became a commodity to be acquired for individual consumption or investment, and moved further away from being a part of the commons.

In the past few years, this seems t...