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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

This haat beats for art

After Irom Sharmila last year, Anna Hazare wins IIPM's 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize of Rs. 1cr. To be handed over on 9th May

Bringing artists, collectors, art enthusiasts, and curious citizens together, Art Mart II proved to be much more than just a platform for buying and selling art. Anu Gulmohar paints the picture of Art Mart II in a little less than 1000 words'

Gurgaon is the millennium city with its high rises, posh hotels and a fair share of people with a taste for the finer things in life. It's of little wonder then that an art fair has begun to be held annually here and artists from all over India and beyond converge at the Art Mart. On one hand it aims at meeting the needs of Gurgaon and NCR residents who wish to deck-up their homes with affordable paintings and sculptures, and on the other hand it offers works of a hundred and more artists for the pick of connoisseurs and corporates. While the capital plays host annually to the prestigious Art Summit, which boasts of some of the biggest names on the art scene, its satellite city got a sampling of a unique melange of art, in this second edition of Art Mart, which was held between 10th and 12th September. The three-day event featured not just art works but even workshops and seminars that gave regular people a rare opportunity to interact and learn from the artists and experts in the industry.

Inaugurated by Dr Karan Singh (MP, Rajya Sabha & President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations), an enthralling performance by Sidigoma, the tribal Sufi Community of East African origin based in Gujarat, set the stage for Art Mart II, an initiative by Old World Hospitality. Playful installations by artists like Dharmendra Rathore and Anjolie Ela Menon welcomed people, while stall after stall of paintings brought here by galleries and artists awaited them inside. Showcasing contemporary art in its multifarious forms ' drawings, sculptures, ceramics, installations, photographs, prints, digital and video art, mixed media and performance art ' Art Mart II went on to also hold an Art Appreciation Course, a Draw and Paint workshop, Snap it Up photography workshop, Face 2 Face for buyers with artists, On The Spot Painting Competition for children, an Art Camp for artists, a Panel Discussion for experts, live sessions of portrait-making and caricature painting for the public. There was even an Art Book Caf' and a Collectors' Lounge at the Mart. These courses and discussions were meant to further engage and encourage people toward art.

So if you're relatively new to the world of art collecting, the 2-day Art Appreciation Course could've provided you with a leg-up. Conducted by Sushma Bahl, she shared with us some rules of the trade. 'Before the investment, one should look at the quality of the art work and how one responds to it, in terms of technical finesse, what the work is saying to you, how it looks, how the artist has created it, who's the person who has created it. And then of course, its value in terms of the cost, whether the artist has done well so far, which way he's going. One needs to study all this. It involves knowing, understanding the work itself, knowing about the artist, where he comes from, from where he's started, where he's today, which kind of shows he's done so far. All of these factors ought to be considered before one decides to buy a work of art. And if you spot talent at a young stage, then you are a gainer in every respect. First of all, the quality of his technical work will improve and of course the value of the work also jumps quickly,' said Bahl. Amandeep Singh, a resident of Gurgaon and an amateur photographer, was among the participants of Snap it Up, a photography workshop by Sandeep Biswas. Sharing his experience with us, he said, 'I was not too sure what to expect, but needed some clarity on certain issues. To some extent, I got critical answers, along with a better understanding of photography. I got some new ideas and perspectives from the workshop.' Dinesh Khanna curated another photography initiative, the Gurgaon Wall, which was a community effort and featured photographs of Gurgaon sent in by professionals and amateurs.

Claiming to have garnered business worth crores in its first year, Art Mart had considerably heightened the expectations of all parties involved. Bahl filled us in about this year's sales. 'Almost all galleries did sell something and the few that didn't sell made some important contacts and links that they're now pursuing,' he said. Of the 40 paintings brought in from Africa by Muzu Sulemanjee, nine were sold. 'We haven't got all the figures yet; I think some more sales will materialise in the next few days,' reassured Bahl.

As Art Mart II claimed to be promoting emerging artists, the more prominent artists and galleries were seen missing from action. Whether it's a deliberate decision or a teething problem we're not sure, but it left some people rather discontented. Alakananda Saha of Montage Arts gallery was among one to comment. 'Only five-six stalls had good serious art. Next year the organisers should select more judiciously and select serious art. So the serious buyers are attracted and even if someone buys something small for their homes, they should have something they can cherish all their lives, and it would also be something that will have future value,' said Saha. In its effort to be so much at once, Art Mart II might have missed the bull's eye on certain parameters, but overall it was a laudable effort by Old World Hospitality. As a resident of Gurgaon, I am already looking forward to Art Mart III.

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