Online art galleries for investors

By Nalini S Malaviya

With an increase in demand for art as investment, there has been a corresponding growth in the number of online art galleries. An online gallery offers the prospective buyer the anonymity of browsing through its paintings, without the hassle of an attending salesperson. First time buyers especially find it comforting to look at artworks at their convenience in the comforts of their homes. Usually, gallery websites also offer a lot of information on art history, artists, catalogues, market trends along with the ease of searching for artworks based on price bands and genre of painting. A virtual tour combines convenience with information to make it a winning combination.

On the downside, buyers who are inclined to physically check out the artwork, find it difficult to deal with a virtual source. Transaction is another issue where buyers feel more comfortable dealing with a local person or contact. And, therefore, when it comes to sales, despite the convenience, many buyers prefer to deal with local art galleries and dealers. According to Art Consultant Umesh UV of affordindianart.com, “Communication has to be prompt, if not, the client will buy from somewhere else who offers a faster turnaround time. Usually artworks are sent after the payment is through but delay in payment from offshore sources causes further delay in sending the artwork.” Delays in receiving the artworks may also cause panic attacks in buyers. Security of transaction details is another sensitive area, which often discourages buyers from trying out newer websites. Online galleries have to depend a lot on building their reputation and gaining trust from their clients.

Despite all this, online art galleries are making their mark. According to Umesh, operating costs of a virtual gallery is low when compared to a brick and mortar gallery. Manpower, previews, cocktails, printed material, catalogues are all eliminated thereby reducing the budget. Often online galleries also showcase artists’ works without actually buying them and thereby reduce their investment costs. Sometimes, this maybe passed on to the customer. However, the most important criterion when buying from the Internet should be the credibility of that site.

(Published in Financial Times, Bangalore)

Writing for Matters of Art

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- Nalini

Restoration of art

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Once you have invested in a work of art, it is important to take good care of it, since artworks that get damaged or show signs of age need to be restored, which can be an expensive process and will also substantially impact its investment potential.
Restoration is a complicated process and should be undertaken only by experts. One should never attempt to ‘clean’ paintings or other artworks with chemicals – it can cause irreparable damage and reduce its resale price. The materials and techniques used in restoration are decided based on their ageing patterns, their effect on the paintings and should be reversible in nature.

Venkat Singh, Director of Dharohar Art Conservation elaborates on the process involved – “first the painting is careful examined to evaluate the problem and to decide on the methodology of treatment. Documentation is then followed by a mechanical and chemical cleaning of dirt and surface grime. If necessary, the painting is de-varnished to reveal its original colors. Paint layers are consolidated and any tears or holes in the canvas are mended. In case, the damage in the canvas is a major one, a new canvas lining is added to provide strength to the old one. Next, comes the important step of infilling, and then retouching the area, were original paint is lost. Finally, the work is re-varnished, followed by a documentation of the results.”
The cost of restoration depends on the volume and area of damage. The location of damage also affects the cost, for instance, any damage on the face can escalate the cost. As an approximation, restoring a small sized painting (2'x3') can cost upwards of Rs 30-40,000 .

It is important to know that the process is not foolproof and can cause loss of important clues that can effect the authentication of the painting. “Also, no touch-up is ever done on the lost area of the artist’s signature,” points out Venkat.
Therefore, art conservation that focuses on preservation and preventive care becomes significant, as investing in art gathers momentum.

(Published in Financial Times)

Recently, posts have been few and far-between, as I've been busy with other things including some new writing assignments. Also, this is the lean season where art is concerned. Not many shows are happening. But, if you know about art exhibitions, contests, or any other art related news mail me.

Art Review - Chandana Kankaria

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Chandana D Kankaria is back in the city to present her recent works. Her watercolors are once again inspired from nature, although a few larger works portray the city skyline, and interiors of homes. The artist offers, “You can’t hide or conceal anything when you work with watercolors. They are transparent and every stroke – whether right or wrong is visible to the naked eye”.

Most of her paintings are pleasant, and delicately rendered in soft shades. The artist has good control over the medium and is able to play around with light and shade effect, and colors. However, in some of her larger works what strikes a discordant note is the linear disproportion of skylines. Buildings that appear to be inclined at an angle create a visual conflict. The cityscapes bathed in brilliant hues form a large part of the collection. Then there are a bunch of balloons, drapes in a room and sidewalks with colorful umbrellas. The colors though are sometimes too bright and could be toned down for a more refined impact. The smaller works are based on nature and are beautifully evocative and follow a subtler color palette. The works have a cultivated air of romance and a pleasing ambience. Overall, it forms an appealing collection.

Chandana is a fine arts graduate from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and has a penchant for watercolors. She has held a few solo shows in Bangalore and Chennai. An avid traveler, she finds inspiration from old buildings, pilgrimage places and nature.

The exhibition of paintings is on till April 26 at Time and Space art gallery, No.55, Lavelle Road, Bangalore - 1.

(Published in FT, Bangalore)