Recently, the Indian art world has shaken a terrible scandal. The famous artist SH Raza (S. H. Raza), opened the exhibition of his paintings in New Delhi and was surprised to find that most of the works on it - forgery.

ill-fated exhibition was arranged in the gallery Dhoomimal. Raza, who lives in Paris, gave her some of his works. The remaining works - more than 30 paintings - gallery has to exhibit a nephew of the artist. According to legend, these works were in the early period of creativity times.

«When I came into the gallery and began to examine paintings on the walls, I was very surprised», - the artist wrote to one Indian newspaper. - In reviewing the work one after the other, I realized that the picture simply does not my , they are all fake. Next month, I'm 86 years old. At my age, I least want to visit the exhibition, which displays the forgery of my works ».

Raza is one of the most famous living Indian artists. His works are in great demand on the international art market. Last year one of his paintings brought 1.3 million pounds (1.86 million dollars) in the London auction Christie's.

Those who came to the opening of the exhibit last Saturday, told that Raza quietly inspected the painting, and then told the owners of the gallery, and his nephew, that they were false.

Owners Dhoomimal Udey and Uma Jane (Uday & Uma Jain) apologized to the older artist, explaining to him that they are the same victims of fraud, as well as he. The exhibition was closed down in half an hour.

«I was very upset that this happened in my gallery, - said in an interview with Times, Mrs. Jane. - But the fact that we invited [to the opening. - Ed .] of the time, suggests that we try to show only the original ». She added that the nephew of the painter ZK Zafri (Z. H. Zafri), which has been made «falshaki», knew that Raza will come at the opening. Zafri informed her that the pictures were in the house in Madhya Pradesh, where the artist lived before.

«I know only that the picture we borrowed Zafri, Raza, and that when he saw them, he called them doubtful, - said Mrs. Jane. - He was very angry, but it is concerned only him and his nephew» . Recently it became known that the artist gave to Zafri in court. Gazette Times failed to contact either of the parties to a family dispute.

scandal with counterfeit products times an excellent illustration of how volgotno feel India falsifiers. In the past few years the demand for contemporary Indian art, as well as the Indian art of the XX century is increased. In just six years ago, the total value of works by Indian artists sold at public auction, was $ 5 million. And in 2008 this figure had grown to 150 (!) Million. Now the value of the Indian art market estimated at 290 million dollars. Art dealers and experts on the art market say that the purchase of Indian art - business risk, because the country has no established authentication mechanism works.

«Now falsification is a huge problem - Uma said Jane. - the last 10-15 years have seen a huge influx of funds for the art market, and many buyers simply do not have the experience».

Source: timesonline.co . uk