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January 19, 2009

Chalo India

Filed under: Events — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:02 pm



The largest exhibition of Indian contemporary art ever to be held in Japan


chalo-india


“Chalo” is Hindi for “Let’s go.” With the words “Chalo! India” (Let’s go! India), we invite you to discover an explosion of creativity and vitality in Indian contemporary art. “Chalo! India” will take you on a journey through more than 100 works by 27 artists and artist groups from all over India. Encompassing a broad range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography and installation, this exhibition examines the latest movements in Indian contemporary art.


Following independence from Britain in 1947, Indian artists began exploring new forms of artistic expressions—drawing inspiration and ideas from Western modernism, and India’s own distinctive culture. Over the next 60 years, new types of work that powerfully embodied political and social critiques emerged. More recently, Indian artists have been making works that respond to urbanization and changing contemporary lifestyles—art that reflects the rapid economic development, and globalization that has taken hold since the 1990s. Today the lively Indian art scene is spreading its wings both at home and abroad, and has been attracting a great deal of international attention.


“Chalo! India” is a significant survey of new Indian art, including a sociological research project involving architects and intellectuals, and state of the art interactive media work—as befits an IT giant such as India. Most people see India in terms of its rich and influential history, its Gods and devotion, Bollywood movies, or its awakening as an economic giant. However, there is so much more to the complex and dynamic India of today. “Chalo! India” explores and celebrates the depth of this country; the contradictions of its society, the dreams and hopes of its people, and its energy and passion toward the future.


Participating Artist

A. Balasubramaniam N. S. Harsha
Sarnath Banerjee Pushpamala N.
Krishnaraj Chonat Jagannath Panda
Nikhil Chopra Justin Ponmany
Atul Dodiya Ashim Purkayastha
Shilpa Gupta Raqs Media Collective
Subodh Gupta Gigi Scaria
Tushar Joag Nataraj Sharma
Anant Joshi Gulammohammed Sheikh
Ranbir Kaleka Kiran Subbaiah
Jitish Kallat Vivan Sundaram
Reena Saini Kallat Thukral & Tagra
Bharti Kher Hema Upadhyay
Prabhavathi Meppayil


For more information visit : http://www.mori.art.museum/english/contents/india/exhibition/index.html



January 4, 2009

Consolidation phase good for art market

Filed under: Art News — Tags: , — admin @ 4:52 am


The general perception is that interest in art has dwindled to such an extent that no one is buying art. While it is true that the amount of money that is being spent on art has gone down considerably, and that many galleries and dealers are affected , you can still come across many buyers who are continuing to buy art for its intrinsic value and also as an investment. The economic recession has affected most businesses. At the same time, there are people who are comparatively unaffected in the present situation.


There are still many people who attend art show previews and other events. Some of them even end up buying paintings that they like. The category of art priced between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000 has the maximum sales. Most of these works are either decorative or done by upcoming artists, and even final year students from fine art institutes . It can also be noticed that most artists are now open to negotiation as far as prices are concerned. The boom time for art is definitely over and the plateau that you see now reflects a healthier trend in the art market.


This phase is expected to allow artists and other members of the art community some breathing space which should eventually help the market. Greater introspection, more time and space to explore creativity , and focus on business ethics will help in strengthening the market in the long term. As most analysts point out, this period of adjustment will help in the consolidation and stabilisation of the art market. Well, it is important to begin the year on a positive note.


Most major art events such as fairs and seminars are going as per schedule. As galleries point out, it is important to continue with their events in order to keep the interest in art alive. The year 2009 will be significant in establishing and charting out the course that the art market will take in the years to come.


Nalini S Malaviya, ET Bureau



January 2, 2009

Crisis fails to dent prices of quality art

Filed under: Art News — Tags: , , — admin @ 1:01 am


KOLKATA: Given the winds of change blowing across the economic and financial scene worldwide, art prices are recalibrating as well. However, the values of top quality art seem to be holding steady.


In the same breath, the art market has turned toward favouring the buyer instead of the seller. Against this backdrop, one imagines it is an excellent opportunity to buy art, especially of stellar quality and proper provenance and condition.


“Great art has always held the test of time and a discerning and intelligent approach to buying in these times should hold any collector in good stead,” Maithili Parekh, Sotheby’s deputy director, told ET. “The art market, both in India and abroad, is reflecting the realignment of prices in this climate.


What one is seeing now is a healthy correction to values that had been galloping unrealistically. Mediocre art is often being glossed over, but strong works by top artists continue to fetch interest and price,” she said.


The abiding demand for high quality works is still driven home by the performance of top-notch artists at international auctions in recent times. One such is the sale of Malevich’s ‘Suprematist Composition’ for $60 mn.


Other instances, include Degas’ Danseuse au Repos sold at $37 mn, Munch’s Vampire selling for $38.2 mn and the top Contemporary lot of the season, Yves Klein’s Archisponge, which was lapped up for $21.4 mn. Over two weeks from November 3-14, Sotheby’s sold art worth over $411 mn, proving that the art market is still vibrant at the right values.


While it may be a trifle speculative to come up with names in Indian art who will finally rise above the recession when the market bounces back, it may still safe to place one’s bet on the modern masters and a few of the strong contemporary names.


Therefore, the portfolio of an art collector should certainly include masters such as MF Husain, SH Raza, FN Souza and VS Gaitonde together with Akbar Padamsee and Ram Kumar. In tandem, well-known contemporaries like Arpita Singh, Atul Dodiya, Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher could also harbour value for money. However, the guiding principle for buying art must be the passion for possessing and living with it.


The prevailing dullness in the art market has naturally been triggered by the feverish rise in prices which preceded the depressed conditions. Earlier, the art market would see only tempered ups and downs.


Next year, the art market is likely to consolidate further, weeding out the debris, nurturing quality artists and art, and maintain a passion in collecting. This will determine the health and sustainability of the art market going forward.


Ashoke Nag, ET Bureau



December 28, 2008

What is decorative art?

Filed under: Art News — Tags: , — admin @ 4:16 am


With the slowdown in the art market, the biggest gainer has been art which falls in the realm of decorative art. A more affordable form of art, decorative art is characterised by its visual and aesthetic sense. The themes depicted are pleasant, non-controversial and make use of colours that have a pleasing effect. Some of them are derived from traditional folk arts and crafts, and may make use of excessive ornamentation to have an ornate impact.


Some focus on creating a harmonious balance with the use of right colours to have a soothing and calming effect. Where the use of craft is intended to create a gilt feel, it is easier to characterise as decorative art. In the latter case, the lines could get blurred and these can be more difficult to categorise.


In decorative art, where mere skill is used to define the visual language, lack of components such as concept, composition , effective communication and other such factors fail to draw the discerning collector. This in turn has an effect on the overall investment value of the artwork. In contemporary art, the cerebral content of the artwork is an important criterion in making an artist stand out above his peers.


Often, artists who focus on the decorative value of their works tend to produce them in quick succession, the content is often repetitive with slight variations and the artists also appear to be catering to popular demand. However , such art finds huge favour with local galleries and dealers, as this forms a category that is generally a fast moving commodity.


Within the art fraternity categorisation between decorative and other forms of art is common, and well known, where collectors and artists can differentiate between the various classifications of art with ease. Most other buyers are attracted to decorative art thanks to their intrinsic aesthetic content. Fortunately, there is no right or wrong in art, and you should follow your instinct in responding to a work of art. Only when the motive is an investment that you need to hone your instincts and do a proper research before buying.


Nalini S Malaviya, ET Bureau



November 22, 2008

Eat, talk and buy art at India’s unique art platform

Filed under: Art News — Tags: , , , — admin @ 10:44 am


NEW DELHI: A bunch of women, clad in chiffon and smelling of expensive perfumes, sip their cappuccinos and discuss art prices. In another corner, college students talk excitedly about their favourite painters. The venue is Arts-I, India’s first one-stop arts shop in the capital.


Located at Scindia House in downtown Connaught Place, it promises to position art as a complete experience. Little surprise then that it boasts of a cafe, a store, a gallery, auction space and more.


Behind the endeavour is Religare Enterprises Limited, which says it is India’s first institutional finance firm to venture into the business of art.


“Since the economy started booming nearly seven years ago, every wealth manager in the country has been trying to diversify portfolios - to provide a wider range of services,” said Amit Swarup, head of the Religare Arts Initiative.


“Art fits the bill because it is emerging as an independent asset class globally where people can invest and reap rich returns as art has the highest appreciation index even in times of economic instability.”


“So we decided to set up an art fund last year. But we soon realised that the art market was interlinked - the galleries, collectors, investors, artists and auction houses could not do without each other and the best way to bring all the market synergies together was to create an integrated destination, and not just a stand alone art fund.”


Arts-I, spread over a 12,000-sq ft area, has a documentation-cum-archival zone, education programmes, investors-artists’ interaction space, advisory services for investors and residency programmes.


The fact that the company was a hardcore financial institution helped because it was sound enough to plan long term - so as to make art affordable and ensure uniformity in prices in a scenario where art prices are often artificially inflated by the media blitz and sale of particular art works over and over again by galleries.


Religare got in touch with architect-cum-creative visualiser Mukesh Panika, who headed an integrated art project, Art Aid in New York, to conceive an innovative platform.


The high points of the facility are the art cafeteria that extends to the open-air terrace and an art store selling wood and metal sculptures, limited edition prints, miniatures and bric-a-brac.The library-cum-documentation centre is under construction. The facility, done up in whitewash and glass, has hosted three exhibitions so
far.


“The Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai and the Triveni Kala Sangam in the capital also have value-added services, but not a complete platform. My idea was to take art to another level and position it as an experience to clients since we were leveraging business for the cause of art,” Panika explained.


Delhi-based art lover Ankhi Khurana, who likes to hang out in cafes and galleries, feels the fact that it is open to all helps.


“One need not always buy art. One can just visit the place, see art, chill out and catch up with some reading. It is a kind of place that one likes going to,” said Khurana, who purchased an installation, “Laila”, from Arts-I recently.


Aarushi Chadda, whose grandfather owns the property, has bought three art works.


“Despite the fact that markets were tumbling and the future of art seemed uncertain, we decided to let out the space because the concept was so interesting. It gives an upmarket feel to the experience of buying art and ensures maximum participation,” she said.


Buyers and investors, explained Panika, can bring their families and friends unlike galleries, where one either sees artworks or just buys it. “The concept of 360 degree platforms for art promotion is the trend of the future,” Panika predicted.


Among the existing art funds and promotion facilities in India, the Mumbai-based Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art Private Ltd - which has an art fund, an archive and an auction house - comes closest to the Religare Arts Initiative.


Others like Crayon Capital and even the Kotak Art Fund are primarily art funds, which might follow suit in future, the Arts-I team said.


The art market in India, which has seen a steady growth over the last decade, currently stands close to $400 million, according to a conservative estimate by art fund guru Phillip Hoffman.


IANS



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