Globally lauded for its great artistic history, currently Indian art is on course to have its best-performing year ever, right in the year 2023, addressing art & sustainability, digital art, and more. The Indian art market has clocked in a mammoth turnover of $144.3 million through the sale of 3,833 works in FY23, according to a report in May 2023, while India's imports of art are expected to reach around $229 million by 2026, rising from $179 million in 2021. Deepa Nand, also known as Simran Khubchandani Founder & Partner of Art & Soul - an art gallery in Mumbai is a vital element of the same field, passionately leading people towards Arts appreciation through her company. Let’s read more about her through the exclusive interview of Deepa with Women Entrepreneur magazine.

Take us through your educational and professional background. How and when did you develop an interest in the field of art?

One could call me an ardent wanderer as I’ve never lodged in one place at length except, India. I was born in Chennai and shortly after moved to Singapore for my education, thereafter shifted to Australia for work and not long after, on to Hong Kong where I spent most years, working. The aforementioned is one of the key facets in the plethora of experiences I’ve had whilst working in multiple managerial positions across varying cultures. I fully embrace this transient lifestyle as it taught me plenty over my global employment and working alongside multifaceted people.

I possess an education in the field of economics during my O and A level studies in Singapore, and thereafter acquired a BA degree in Hotel Management & Journalism. Upon my shift to India, I married Raj Khubchandani and was blessed with twins. My sisterin- law and I partnered up to sell furniture I transposed from Hong Kong, staged the furniture along with artwork, and to our surprise, the art sold more than the furniture. This led us to curate a cancer fundraiser called ‘Journey’ and never looked back again. This very act of doing good with art sparked an interest in us, from which Gallery Art & Soul was born.

Take us through the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. How does your past professional experience empower you as a business leader today?

My previous job was for a French company Le Creuset founded in 1925, Le Creuset that has been renowned as the colourful French companion in kitchens across the globe. I handled the whole of South East Asia in the position of Regional Director.

I follow a mantra that helps bring empowerment to the table of any job. Your first priority is to your company and it is to increase revenue and improve profitability. This priority should guide all your thinking, actions, and decisions while you are on the job. Your second priority is to always make your boss look good by supporting their vision and promoting their success and the success of the organization. Your third priority is to yourself for which without exception you must carry a positive attitude, project self-confidence, display an even temperament, and deliver the appearance of success.

What led you to establish Gallery Art & Soul? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture and its key areas of specialization.

The establishment of Gallery Art & Soul was born with an amalgamation of a syncretic vision of art (to support emerging talent) and provide support for the field of cancer research for which the gallery has produced stellar charity galas and salon exhibitions as a non-profit foundation. Gallery Art & Soul thrives on showcasing aesthetic unification by producing spectacles that vary in genre, materiality, and conceptual thought across art’s historical timeline.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of leading an art gallery in today’s business climate? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

In this ever-changing world, it is overwhelming to keep up with the continuous array of trends in every field of art. After the dreadful pandemic, we strive to keep up digitally as there is an increase in online activity. We see a descend in the number of people  physically visiting the gallery. We grieve all the art that is not being seen and engaged with. To overcome this roadblock, the gallery plans several outreach events during an exhibition so as to get viewers to visit the space.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world and hire people who want to see that change and considerably contribute to the purpose"

Tell us about the top three milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has been your success

My journey started at the age of 19 when I moved to Australia and was given 60 dollars by my father to seek employment; I still thank him for it. I got a job as a shoe sale score at a large department store call David Jones from where I climbed up the ladder and became a buyer, in a span of 5 years. Eventually, I departed Australia and arrived in Hong Kong where I worked innumerable jobs and found myself getting within the ace of marketing. In that capacity, I was hired by a multinational French company called ‘le Creuset’, where I worked as the Regional Director handling Pan- South Asian countries. I worked with a team of over 200 employees who reported to me. Soon after, I moved to India to set up a base for them resulting in indefinite trips here and there. Later, I developed an interest in art and pursued it further on with my sister-in-law, Dr. Tarana Khubchandani.

How has Gallery Art & Soul’s growth journey been so far? What roadmap have you set for its next growth phase?

What started as sheer passion, from an apartment has turned into the love of my life over the years. From experiencing the shift in art, especially in Bombay, to the act of making art more accessible to all society and hiring people with the same passion alongside showing enthusiastic artists that make me go- Wow! This growth involves the aforementioned things along with participating in international art fairs, doing public art shows on a commercial level along with collaborations with musicians, fashion houses, and carpet weavers. The gallery has some major shows planned with well-established artists that will be curated on a big scale and we shall continue the above and maintain the decorum vibe of the space, much with gratitude.

Any advice you want to relay to the aspiring women leaders?

Be the change you wish to see in the world and hire people who want to build that change with you. Create a network and be an active soul within that wide web. Ditch the comfort zone, embrace consistency, and welcome opportunistic challenges along your journey walk. Most importantly, build and maintain relationships with your team. Trust me, it’ll go a long way.

Deepa Nand, Founder & Partner, Gallery Art & Soul

B.A. in Hotel Management & Journalism, Deepa is an ardent & passionate art professional who holds an appreciation for Indian arts and is displaying the same through her art gallery – Gallery Art & Soul.

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