Indian art finds a virtual market

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The art of selling art gets fancier as India’s first online art fair, India Art Collective (IAC), is here to woo the art aficionados virtually. Art patrons can simply browse, book and buy modern Indian contemporary artworks by checking www.indiaartcollective.com [2] from November 19 to November 26. Some of the finest Indian art galleries like Chemould Prescott Road, Nature Morte, Gallery SKE, Sakshi Art Gallery, Vadhera Art Gallery, Gallery Espace, Apparao Galleries, Akar Prakar, Palette, Latitude 28, Tao Art Gallery, The Guild, Experimenter, Kashi etc, will be participating in this art expo.
People from the art world think online art fairs will publicise art among the masses, and open new avenues for budding artists.
Artist Asit Kumar Patnaik thinks that it is a good move to promote art and says, “It will be easier for buyers to choose online and contact the artists if they like the artwork. Usually in gallery exhibitions the price of artworks isn’t mentioned openly, but in this case the prices will be out in the open. The percentage of commission that artists pay to gallery owners will also reduce and it will benefit the artists.”
Artist Mousumi Biswas also feels that online art fairs will ensure transparency for buyers and artists. She says, “In an online art fair, famous as well as budding artists are on the same platform. The response to sale of artworks will be in the open and there will be newer possibilities for a new breed of artists. For the ‘not-so-famous’ artists the struggle to book a gallery in advance will be reduced.”
Sapna Kar, co-founder and director of IAC, points out that the next generation of art lovers and collectors are extremely Net savvy and there is a huge art market that can be tapped virtually. She says, “There are over 100 million net users and the art market on the Internet is still not utilised in our country. This concept is an attempt to reach out to the potential buyers across the globe. At this art fair we’ll have 40 exhibitors showcasing 800 artworks of over 200 artists.”
Bhavna Kakar, owner, Latitude 28 art gallery, feels online art transaction is best for seasoned art collectors who know their artists and are aware of the styles and artworks. She says, “I am one of the participants and jury for IAC 2011 and I think it’s a good model to promote art. It can be successful as overheads involved are low and it is easier for buyers to browse through artworks by just sitting at home. For gallery owners it is not possible to send out detailed catalogues to every buyer, so makes their work easy.”
Tulika Kedia, art collector and owner of Must Art Gallery, informs that she has previously purchased many artworks online and it’s a hassle-free way to find out the latest trends and prices in the art world. She says, “It is not possible for buyers to be present physically for each art exhibition, so selecting art online is an easier option. Personally, I have invested in artworks online and I was really happy when I received the orders. In our gallery too, a lot of queries come from buyers across the globe, who check the Gond artworks online and book them. In fact, at times I feel the images of artwork actually don’t do justice to the real work and when it’s delivered at your doorstep, it’s much better than what it looks online.”