2 Aug 2011

EXPERIMENTA INDIA 2011 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS


EXPERIMENTA INDIA 2011 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

EXPERIMENTA – the international festival for moving image art in
India, seeks artists’ films and videos from any country that challenge
popular and conventional modes of cinema. Abstract to obscure
compositions produced on the margins of contemporary screen-culture
are welcome. Innovative, cutting edge and non-traditional work that
attempts to aesthetically extend the parameters of the mediums of film
and video is encouraged.

Preview copies must be submitted for selection purposes. All lengths
of film are considered. Please submit entries as soon as possible. The
final deadline for receipt of submissions in 10th September 2011. The
festival programme will be finalised by October 2011, at which time
only those whose works are selected will be informed.

EXPERIMENTA is a curated film festival, and will be held in Bangalore
India, December 1-4, 2011

For more information on EXPERIMENTA and to download a submission form
visit: www.experimenta.in

- For further clarification/information contact experimentaindia@gmail.com

26 Jul 2011

Investing in art

Investing in art needs some research

With reports in the media focusing primarily on the merits of investing in art and making it appear as an attractive option for all investors, it raises a lot of questions for investors who are attracted to art as a financial investment instrument. Art can undoubtedly give huge returns in the long term, but there are many layers to it, which may not be immediately evident to nouveau buyers, but are nevertheless present and hence require a healthy understanding of the workings of the art market.
It is important to consider various aspects related to investing in art for instance, the risks associated with it, its liquidity and also how it fares against other investment assets. It is inadvisable to consider art from a purely financial investment angle; after all, it is one of the few (such as antiques and collectibles) options which has a ‘decorative’ side to it. It would therefore be rather inappropriate and superfluous to override the aesthetics and visual content of art.
One should consider investing in art only after allocating funds to conventional assets such as stocks, real estate and gold. Also, consider art as a long-term proposition and keep in mind that it may take some time to sell it off when necessary.
Most people who have made a lot of money through art are those who bought works at low prices by artists who would have then gone on to establish themselves in a big way later on. However, it is important to realize that not every artwork will appreciate considerably in the future - prices are likely to increase with time corresponding with the artist’s career but not all will show a significant change or a dramatic graph. This implies that the element of risk is probably high when buying artworks priced in the lower bracket range. Art which is priced higher and is done by established artists is a safer option in terms of investment, but requires a larger outlay from your part. It is also essential that as a buyer or investor you have some knowledge of art and understand the dynamics of the market to an extent.

25 Jul 2011

Investing in art needs some research

24 JUL, 2011, 10.11AM IST, NALINI S MALAVIYA,ET BUREAU


With reports in the media focusing primarily on the merits of investing in art and making it
appear as an attractive option for all investors, it raises a lot of questions for investors who are
attracted to art as a financial investment instrument. Art can undoubtedly give huge returns in
the long term, but there are many layers to it, which may not be immediately evident to nouveau


buyers, but are nevertheless present and hence require a healthy understanding of the workings
of the art market.

It is important to consider various aspects related to investing in art for instance, the risks
associated with it, its liquidity and also how it fares against other investment assets. It is
inadvisable to consider art from a purely financial investment angle; after all, it is one of the few
(such as antiques and collectibles) options which has a ‘decorative’ side to it. It would therefore
be rather inappropriate and superfluous to override the aesthetics and visual content of art.

One should consider investing in art only after allocating funds to conventional assets such as
stocks, real estate and gold. Also, consider art as a long-term proposition and keep in mind that
it may take some time to sell it off when necessary.

Most people who have made a lot of money through art are those who bought works at low
prices by artists who would have then gone on to establish themselves in a big way later on.
However, it is important to realize that not every artwork will appreciate considerably in the
future - prices are likely to increase with time corresponding with the artist’s career but not
all will show a significant change or a dramatic graph. This implies that the element of risk
is probably high when buying artworks priced in the lower bracket range. Art which is priced
higher and is done by established artists is a safer option in terms of investment, but requires
a larger outlay from your part. It is also essential that as a buyer or investor you have some
knowledge of art and understand the dynamics of the market to an extent.


(Published in Financial Times)

Art Buzz (Mumbai)

22 Jul 2011

Art Buzz (New Delhi)

Art Buzz (Bangalore) Synesthasia

TFA INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR 2012 AWARDS

TOTO FUNDS THE ARTS INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR 2012 AWARDS

Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) invites submissions for its 2012 annual arts awards for young musicians/bands, writers and photographers.. There are six awards to be won — one for music (Rs 50,000), two for photography (Rs 25,000 each), two for creative writing in English (Rs 25,000 each) and one for creative writing in Kannada (Rs 25,000). The photography awards are being made in partnership with TASVEER and the writing awards (English) are being supported by Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions

Toto Funds the Arts was founded in 2004, in memory of Angirus ‘Toto’ Vellani who was intensely passionate about music, literature, films and the arts. Toto’s untimely demise spurred his family and friends to create a non-profit foundation that would encourage the young to give expression to their artistic ideas. The annual Toto awards are intended to recognise excellence in the fields of photography, music and creative writing.

All submissions must be original and must be received before 10 September 2011 (the last date for Kannada writing applications is 15 October 2011). Young persons from all over India between the ages of 18 and 29 are eligible to apply. Full details about eligibility and the application process for each award category can be found athttp://totofundsthearts.blogspot.com OR can be obtained on request from totofundsthearts@yahoo.com or tfaindia@yahoo.com

Art Buzz (New Delhi)

Kali Kamai - project installation and public viewing





Kali Kamai
project installation and public viewing



July 21 - 25, 2011
Shillong, Meghalaya

The Kali Kamai project by Wanphrang Diengdoh received the FICA Public Art Grant 2009.


The project has been in progress for a year now and will now take to the streets of Shillong to engage with the public. The Khasi term Kali Kamai translates as taxi or more literally as a ‘car for earning’, and is the popular local mode of transport in Shillong, Meghalaya where the project is located. The project involves the alteration of the local share-taxi making it into a mobile-site to firstly, study the relationships between the individual and the city, and secondly, address the city’s history of conflict and prevalent undercurrents of racial tension. The artist views the Kali Kamai as a one of the few truly public spaces in the city where ‘the fine lines of race are blurred and will use this site to interface with the public through interactive audio-visual installations and one-on-one conversations.

The Kali Kamai has been conceptualised and designed as a contemporary reflection on popular folktales that still exist in the oral tradition in the region. On each side of the vehicle we see painted the various narratives refering to Khasi folktale using contemporary references. The bulk of oral culture is still sustained by the people commuting in these public vehicles, though not direclty retold they emerge through reference and conversations that take place here, a space that Diengdoh has tuned into and has been documenting in the last year. To him this is the space where the links to histories, both personal and the community's, can be found. The documented material will be presented in the Kali Kamai on a touch screen, urging the passengers to explore and exchange stories during their journey across the city.

Wanphrang K. Diengdoh has a BA in Mass Communication from St. Antony’s College, Shillong and MA Mass Communication from MCRC, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi. He is an independent photographer, has directed and edited a few short films and as a musician is part of Stitch, a Delhi-based rock band.
His 36-minute short fiction film, “19/87”, made with Dondor Lyngdoh, won the best film, best cinematography and best screenplay in the competition section at the first Guwahati International Short Film Festival (GISFF), 2011.

24 May 2011



It has been noticed that posts from this blog are being uploaded on a few other blogs without my permission. Although I am flattered, I request you to refrain from doing so, however, you could provide links to my blog http://indianartscene.blogspot.com/

Thanks
NM

5 May 2011

Art in Home Decor


Buying art as an investment option



Now that the recession is considered to be behind us, people are once again looking at various investment options. Real estate, gold and the stock markets are taking precedence as investment avenues. Many are investing in their dream homes and are willing to spend anything between Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 1.5 crores, while others are buying their second or even third houses. There are people keen on doing up their homes to the best of their ability and are willing to spend substantial amounts on the interiors. As part of this process, homeowners are increasingly considering original artworks as an essential element of decor.
It is noticed that in such cases the prime focus is on purchasing a work of art which fits in well with the space and the interiors, rather than be driven by a purely investment motive. Although, this is a positive trend and must be encouraged, what would work better is if the buyers choose art with a right amount of emphasis on aesthetics , and at the same time consider a few points, which can contribute towards building up an art portfolio in the long run.

While buying art, you can consciously opt for original artworks (instead of reproductions or prints) by emerging artists, students or established names depending on the budget available. Drawings, limited edition prints such as etchings or serigraphs, watercolours and photographs are some of the options which are priced lower than oils and acrylics on canvas . Canvas works by students and young artists are also likely to be more affordable in comparison to paper works by senior artists.

Most people tend to buy art according to specific colour themes or motifs in an effort to coordinate with the existing decor, but this may not always be the right approach to adopt. When buying, the emphasis should always be on the quality of the artwork, while keeping other aspects in mind.