As the India Art Fair 2016, concludes gallery owners tell Arjita Mishra and Riya Sharma that while works of young artists have sold more than masters, old clients seemed to have held on to their preferences of MF Husain and SH Raza
As we entered the NSIC grounds, we were surprised by the turnover of those who came to appreciate and encourage their love for art. It was not a regular sight at an art fair with senior art connoisseurs walking around. In fact at the recently concluded India Art Fair, we spotted quite a number of youngsters. The first thing that came to our mind was, “So many lovers of art”, and as we took a round of the Delhi Art Gallery, we spotted many youngsters not only enjoying the artworks, but also taking pamphlets and write ups to know about the artists and the gallery. As we entered another hall, we saw a huge sculpture of an Indian woman painted in golden colour who looked exactly like a typical Indian auntie. The sculpture which only had a face to it, was carved with all the intricacies like parting of hair in two halves and adorned with gajra at the back. This was one of the out-of-the-box ideas that we came across at the art fair.
NOT SO ORDINARY
A gallery from Singapore, Red Sea Gallery, had exhibited the work of artists from France, Indonesia and China. One of the artists made a huge painting of Mother Teresa compiling thousands of mini images into a collage, bringing out the features of her face.
Another painting by Michel Dupert was made out of volume. The artist who was available at the fair told us, “I have used paint but this is not a sculpture. I have worked more with a volume, so I consider it as a form of painting and not a sculpture. You can move the painting, from here to there (showing it), and when you paint, you never know if it is finished. It is both good and bad, so accordingly, you can change the perception of the work the way you want. My work is like the work of Picasso and many artists who paint on volume. But, here I have done a little difference by moving it. I am like the other artists but little different.”
The exhibition from Company School: Indo-British painting in Colonial India from the Swaraj collection showed a prism of wine glasses and through it, one could see the local area of Bandra. The painting displayed the local area of Bandra railway station, women and men walking on streets. The contrast between the local areas through the prism of many wine glasses amazed us.
NOT FOR SAlE
The exhibition from Company School was not on sale primarily because it was a private collection. The description at the entrance told us that Britishers used to take these pictures and send it to their family members describing the distant land that they were living in. We saw mini photographs of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, all taken with such detailing and precision.
Another gallery which caught our attention was organised by Clark House initiative, Bombay and Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam. There we met Sawangwongse Yawnghwe who told us that his family was sent on exile when he was a kid. “My family was politically very active in Burma so I was raised in Canada. My paintings describe my relationship with my father who passed away few years ago. So, my paintings form a link between our relationship and I feel connected to him again,” he said.
ON THE BUSINESS lINE
“It would be really difficult for us to tell you the exact numbers but it is somewhere in the middle. It’s neither too great nor disappointing,” said Prajjal Dutta, partner of Aicon Gallery New York, USA.” He also told us that the works of young artists have been sold out but the work of veterans, not so much. “I guess it’s due to high rates,” he pointed out. After thinking for a while, he said, “let me give you a figure. The paintings which are in between Rs1 lakh to Rs10 lakh are sold out but the paintings which are in crores are not.”
While a spokesperson from Red Sea Gallery, Singapore, said, “Our business was good and we are satisfied with it.” Art Musins, which showcased works of all the veteran artists like Baiju Parthan, Anjolie Ela Menon, Nilofer Suleman told us, “You know, there are no new buyers. Our main buyers are only those who are our old clients and that has always been the case.”