Expression of Joy - Mandana Painting

(By Nalini S Malaviya)
These monochromatic paintings on paper are outstanding examples of tribal art done by Meena women from Rajasthan. Intricate designs of animals, birds and other motifs have been painted in exquisite detail. White pigment on brown paper has a stark yet delicate effect that resembles lacework, at times. A tree surrounded with parrots, tiger, peacocks and lotus flowers have been represented through linear drawings. Geometric patterns have also been used to fill up space and add decorative value. The result is quite stunning, especially because some of the works have been done on very large panels. What is also interesting is that most of these paintings are a result of group efforts yet it is impossible to detect any blemishes or oversights.


The Meena tribe is an ancient tribal group living in the eastern part of Rajasthan. The art form called ‘Mandana’ is practiced exclusively by women. For them it is an expression of joy on festive occasions. It is done on the mud walls of houses and traditionally, colored glass, beads, mirrors and stones are also used to decorate these paintings. The conventional art form is created using white chalk and brushes made of khajur or bamboo sticks. The end of the stick is crushed to form fine bristles. The mandanas are painted on walls and floors. Often, geometric patterns are painted on walls, while representational forms of animals, birds, plants and flowers are painted on the walls.

The exhibition titled ‘Joy of Creativity’ is on view till April 10 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Kumara Krupa Road and at Time and Space Art Gallery, # 55, Lavelle Road, Bangalore.
(Published in FT, Bangalore)

Investing in Art

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

As art is increasingly being seen as a lucrative avenue for investment a large number of people have started buying art as a part of their investment portfolio. The Indian art market is doing extremely well internationally and there has been a marked increase in the number of non-Indian buyers. Bangalore based art collector Harish Padmanabha points out that the domestic market too is doing well thanks to a lot of free-floating money. However, there are various factors that govern the pricing of an artwork in the primary and the secondary markets. According to him, “Investment in art does not have the ease of liquidity that stocks and shares have. You cannot take it to the market and trade in immediately. Just as real estate is a long term investment opportunity, art is an even longer term investment option.” Having said that, it is still a good investment alternative to add to one’s portfolio apart from conventional assets such as stocks, shares, securities, gold and real estate.

It is estimated that currently the art market is growing at the rate of approximately 30% per annum; however, many individual artists have appreciated at a rate of 200% as well. H Padmanabha advises investors to begin with an amount of approximately Rs 20 lakhs to be able to buy a good body of work that comprises a judicious mix of established and upcoming artists. An amount of Rs 1-2 lakhs is an optimal sum to buy art for its decorative value, which may eventually turn out to be good investment in the long run. However, the percentage of risk is always higher when buying upcoming or lesser-known artists.

ET art index provides a quantitative evaluation of price trends and is computed on the basis of the average Square Inch Rate of works of art of India’s leading 51 contemporary artists. Manjit Bawa, MF Husain, FN Souza, Tyeb Mehta, VS Gaitonde, Akbar Padamsee, Ganesh Pyne, Paristosh Sen and Raja Ravi Verma are some of the well-known artists listed in this category. Investing in any one of these artists is a safe option, however their prices are already beyond the range of most investors.

The mid–segment bracket comprises of works of artists who are fairly established and could possibly be in a price range of Rs 5 – 15 lakhs* for an average sized work. These are the next group of artists who are most likely to hit the top league in the near future. The under Rs 3 lakhs category would comprise works by promising artists that are in the process of getting established and are beginning to make a name for themselves. Remember, investing in this group has the highest risk, but returns can also be spectacular in the long term, provided the artist sustains himself and the Indian art market continues to grow at the present rate.

*Prices mentioned are indicative and depend on the size and the medium of the artwork.

A few points to remember are
· Do a thorough assessment of the artist’s past performance and price trends.
· Always buy from a reputed dealer or art gallery.
· The gallery price of an artist is much lower than his auction rates.
· Make sure you get a provenance certificate (a letter of authenticity) from the seller.
· Take good care of your artwork, prices are directly related to the condition of the artwork. For instance, keep away from direct sunlight, focused light and dampness.
· Be extra cautious with artworks on paper.
· When reselling your artwork, remember there are gallery commissions, current price of the artist and tax implications, which will affect the profit margins.

(Published in FT, Bangalore and Delhi)

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Art Review - Surjit Khuman

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Surjit Khuman in his first solo show in the city presents his recent works - a bright colorful world that resonates with fantasy and childish naivety. Titled ‘Dream World and Spicy Thoughts’ the paintings are a delightful blend of color and metaphorical nuances. He combines the innocence of children with a dash of mischief and humor in his choice of imagery. Pictures from National Geographic move him to create his own fantasy world where the protagonists are suspended as if trapped in time. Looking amused, bored, anxious, and even dumb they seem caught in a vividly colorful world that is far removed from reality, yet is inspired by ordinary activities. Tourists, deep sea divers, a cricket umpire form some of his subjects who look dumbstruck, awed and completely bored within their environments. A dream like quality permeates his works as he recreates scenarios with imaginative twists. An element of incongruity and humor creeps in his paintings as he places his subjects in unusual settings and juxtaposes unrelated objects to make his point.

Surjit has returned to painting after a gap of several years and has taken off from where he left. He has experimented with reverse painting and hopes to utilize printmaking techniques with painting mediums in his next show. He has done BFA (painting) and MFA (print-making) from M. S. University, Baroda.
There are thirty paintings priced between Rs 30,000 and Rs 60,000.

The exhibition continues till April 10 at Renaissance Art Gallery, # 104, Westminster,13, Cunningham Road, Bangalore - 560 052

(Published in FT, Bangalore)

Art Exhibitions (Bangalore)

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Eleven artists from Gulbarga, now residing in Bangalore come together with their recent paintings in one of the exhibitions at Chitrakala Parishath. Titled ‘The Journey Within’, the paintings are varied in nature with abstracts, figurative and surreal works. “At the outset this is an exhibition showcasing the prevailing contemporary trends and beliefs of my fellow artists from this region,” writes Virendra Shah, one of the participants. Virendra Shah’s minimal abstract is along similar lines as his earlier series, while abstracts by Devaki Rao are striking with good use of color. Mixed media works by Avinash depicting a knife on a platter, and others showing a fish and a boat respectively are interesting renditions, while Pawan R’s imagery is surreal in nature, bordering on the bizarre. Vivek Rao’s assemblages are on different themes and Sunita’s works using acrylic on paper are brightly colorful. Overall, a good concerted effort to present works from smaller towns in the State; however, most of the paintings are quite unremarkable. There are forty-two paintings priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 50,000.

In this other exhibition by artist Paritosh Das from West Bengal most of the works are watercolors on silk. The paintings are full of detailing and are based on folklore and memories of rural Bengal. He presents dream sequences and traditional themes through a combination of motifs and figures in bright colors. Most of the works are in small format and there are about fifty paintings priced between Rs 9,000 and Rs 25,000.

Both the exhibitions are on view till March 27 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath Art Gallery, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore - 560 001

(Published in Financial Times, Bangalore)

Art Exhibition

Remember the earlier article on organizing an art exhibition, here's another one, which new and upcoming artists may find useful. This was written and published in Financial Times, Bangalore (June, 2004). The information is quite relevant today as well, however, the rates mentioned at the end of the article may not be valid.

Art exhibition – behind the scenesBy Nalini S Malaviya

The art market is booming in Bangalore, and if art dealers and experts are to be believed this is just the beginning. The next few years should see the city as a more mature and happening art scene. While, established artists command higher prices, the good news is there is a growing market for fresh talent. According to artist Gurudas Shenoy it is great that architects and corporates are factoring in artworks within their budgets. So, not only private collectors but also interior designers are on the look out for great art at rational prices for their clients. This is where young artists can score with reasonable pricing. Although art is not a commodity, it does need to be showcased well so as to reach the buyer. As Shenoy explains, just as a film launch is done with great fanfare, art shows too need to be presented well and it is important for artists to do their homework thoroughly.

Planning a showGallery owner, Renu George suggests, “artists must have a show only when the quality of their work is first-rate and they are ready to take responsibility for their works”. She says it is important to have their works assessed by a few gallery owners or from a knowledgeable source. Galleries are sometimes booked weeks to months in advance, it is therefore advisable to select and book a place while working on the collection. You could also visit art galleries with a portfolio of your works to look for sponsorship. Some galleries when sponsoring an artists take care of the invitation card/catalogue, sending out the invites, press coverage and organizing a preview. Gallery owner, Gita Maini says, “I end up spending around Rs. 50,000 per show, when I sponsor an artist”.

When you rent a gallery either on a per day basis or a package that the space may offer, you are responsible for the logistics, although some galleries will guide you informally. It helps to print a catalogue or an invitation card with at least one of the paintings to generate an interest in the show. Presentation and media interest in the show are a must – the artworks must be packaged well in frames that are subtle, that will hold the work together and should be finalized only after a lot of thinking, advises Shenoy. A press release or note must be sent out a few days in advance to ensure the print matter coincides with the exhibition dates. Also, if you are organizing a preview, don’t forget to invite the media – reviews always help.

Reducing Overheads
Renu George suggests, “upcoming artists could do a group show or hire a small part of the gallery to keep overheads in check”. It is important to price the works reasonably, after all why should one buy a new artist’s painting versus a fairly established one. According to Shenoy the pricing should increase progressively over the years as the works reflect maturity and experience. Also, sales don’t necessarily happen during exhibitions, a studio is another place where prospective buyers can approach and a good ambience can make all the difference. Whenever possible, artists should invest in having a good facility with sufficient comfort factor, this also establishes the seriousness of the artist. Success doesn’t come easy and in an instant, well not always, artists should keep an open mind to all kinds of art, especially in the initial stages when one is trying to make a living as an artist. They could do freelance commercial work or portraits and basically be open to any creative outlet, advises Shenoy.


Some costsFrames: Rs 30 per meter to Rs 600 per foot
Gallery rental: Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per day
Gallery commission: 20% to 40%
Invitation card: Rs 3.50 per piece for 2000 copies (without photograph)
Rs 10 per piece for 200 copies (without photograph)
Rs 10 per piece for 2000 copies (with photograph)
Postage costs extra
Preview costs vary according to the menu and the number of invitees, usually galleries
prefer to get these events sponsored.