The 2025 Conference „Art Meets Law“

The 2025 Conference „Art Meets Law“

The inaugural conference „Art Meets Law“ by the Centre for Art and Law Initiatives (CALI) concluded yesterday, marking a significant milestone in discussions of art law and cultural heritage in India.

The conference was inaugurated by Ms. Lavanya Regunathan Fischer and Dr. Nicolai Kemle and saw the launch of the Centre for Art and Law Initiatives.

The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including:

Mr. R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India
Professor R. Sudarshan, Dean, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy
Retd. Justice Anjana Prakash, Senior Advocate, Former Judge (Patna High Court)
Mr. N. Hariharan, Senior Advocate
Mr. Alloys Kemo, Secretary of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (Kenya)
Mr. Abdul Agonga, Distinguished lawyer (Kenya)
Dr. Nicolai Kemle, Director, Institute for Art and Law (IFKUR, Germany)
Professor Dr. Alexander Fischer, Director, CALI

The speakers delivered lectures and participated in engaging panel discussions on issues such as restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage, fraud and forgeries of artworks, the legal framework of art law in India, adjudication of art law cases in India and much more. One of the highlights was the keynote address by the Attorney General of India, Mr. R. Venkataramani, who emphasised the urgent need for a “new standard of care” in the laws governing artworks and antiquities. He also called for more dialogue on the evolving subject of art law, underscoring its importance in safeguarding our cultural legacy.

The conference saw enthusiastic participation from academics, artists, art collectors, lawyers, policymakers, and other industry professionals, contributing to the vibrant discussions.

2: Retd. Justice Anjana Prakash provides judicial insight on the adjudication of art law cases

Ms. Anjana Prakash’s session at the Art Meets Law conference offered a compelling deep dive into the various legal provisions governing art law. She highlighted several fascinating cases, offering the audience a glimpse into the complex world of legal disputes surrounding art. Her insightful talk also addressed the challenges of adjudicating art law matters, emphasizing the unique considerations that come into play when dealing with artworks—ranging from ownership to authenticity. The session sparked lively engagement from the audience, with many participants eager to discuss the nuances of art law in different jurisdictions.

A truly enriching lecture that shed light on the intricacies of art law and the evolving landscape of global art disputes.

3: Senior Advocate Mr. N. Hariharan speaks on Fakes and Forgeries of Art Works at CALI Inaugural Conference

Mr. N. Hariharan captivated the audience with an engaging session on art fakes and forgeries at the CALI Inaugural Law Conference. Drawing upon the stories of legendary artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Raja Ravi Varma, and S.H. Raza, he illuminated the intricacies of art authenticity and the challenges involved in protecting artworks from counterfeiting. Mr. Hariharan also examined the key provisions of Indian criminal law involved in dealing with counterfeit artworks and highlighted the critical importance of provenance and thorough documentation in protecting the integrity of the art work. An exciting aspect of his talk was the exploration of the significant role of technology in verification of the authenticity of artworks—offering new tools and methods to tackle forgeries with greater accuracy.

A session that left all participants with much to reflect on regarding the intersection of art, law, and technology.

4. Mr. Abdul Agonga

5. Dr. Nicolai Kemle sheds light on commercial aspects of art

6. Mr. Alloys Kemo

7. Panel discussion

Video interviews:

1. Shruti Pandey

2. Robinson

3. Senior Advocate (name?)

4. Meera

5. Indira Pattnaik

6. Anjana Prakash