`Art is not a short-term course'
PRIYADERSHINI S
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S.G. Vasudev opens his mind on the commercialisation of art and artists.
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How can you paint something that is already sold? For me, every canvas is a challenge.
Photo: Bijoy Ghosh
NO PLAYING TO THE GALLERY: S.G. Vasudev with one of his paintings.
Is the commercialisation of art taking precedence over its nobler enriching end? `Art/Artist in the Market Place' will be the subject of a discussion at Durbar Hall Art Gallery on Friday, where S.G. Vasudev's `Past Forward' is on show.
Vasudev, one of the founders of Cholamandal Artists Village in Chennai, recalls: "In the 60s it was very difficult to make a living for an artist. So we extended the village to bring in craft. We didn't start the village for art but to make a living."
Today the art scene is far from the struggling days that Vasudev recalls.
Excerpts from an interview with the artist.
On commercialisation of art
"My only concern is that if it had happened slowly, it would have been much better. But it is sudden, so like racketeering. It brings in a sort of false optimism. Young artists, even before they start doing good work, are bought by the galleries.
Art is not a short-term course. Life and art are always combined. It is not a profession like IT. Some artists say they are `booked' for the next two to three years.
How can you paint something that is already sold? For me, every canvas is a challenge. If someone commissions me to do a personal work, it becomes difficult for me. Artists just cannot dictate. I think it is the galleries who are dictating this market trend. It is an awkward situation."
What ails the art scene
"People are more concerned about auctions and commissioning work. Previously we used to discuss the work, see the work in progress in the studio, criticise and analyse it. Now that is sadly missing.
The artist has become some sort of a businessman. That's why I did not want a website but the demand for it is too much, so I am also coming up with one. But selling my paintings is not my job. Somebody else can do so."
On the changing tastes in art
"People associate price with quality. They do not realise that a painting need not be Rs. 10 lakh. It can be Rs. 2 lakh and still be as good or even better than the expensive one. Artists in their mid-thirties and early forties are being paid in lakhs.
Where will these artists go from here? They will be saturated in no time. What will happen then? Then they will have to under sell. I think an artist has to be extremely careful about pricing his work. The second sale is the most important sale for an artist."
Role of the gallery
"Now everybody wants quick, big money. Nobody thinks of five years hence. The worst thing is that people buy art as investment, not to enjoy it on the wall. It is really sad.
Speculation is the order of the day. Some of the galleries are pumping in big money. The artist automatically becomes a pawn in the hands of a gallery owner. The galleries sign them on contracts and give them lots of money even before collecting a single work. Sometimes they give them a house, a car. I sell my own art. I work with three to four galleries and have kept some sort of sanity. It is for all these reasons we decided to have a talk on the subject, art/artist in the market place."
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Vasudev online
I am not interested in selling my art over the Net but I am creating my website, www.vasudevart.com, only because of market demands. Those interested can see my works in all the four mediums I work with: drawing, painting, copper, relief copper and tapestry in silk. All the recent exhibitions will be updated and there will be links to the galleries to conduct their business.
P.S.
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