This Garden of Weeds Review: V. Sanjay Kumar Maps the Art World

V. Sanjay Kumar's novel *This Garden of Weeds* explores the Indian art world through a murder mystery centered on the death of a mythic artist, Maya. The story follows her daughter Tara as she uncovers Maya's past through flashbacks involving former art-school classmates—an art critic, a reporter, and a performance artist—while also weaving in subplots about a wealthy family's entry into art collecting, a gallerist's shady dealings, and a reality show for artists. The novel satirizes the fusion of gossip, celebrity, and commerce that defines contemporary art culture.