Art Contest: Call for Entries

OFAC is India’s first Online Fine Art Competition, a unique contest offering artists a platform to value their creative talent and an opportunity to shape their future. This is the first time that Indian Artists will get the opportunity to participate in an ONLINE ART COMPETITION. The nature of the competition does away with geographical limitations, thus enabling artists across the country to compete.

The contest will remain open for a period of 45 days, from 15th April ’08 until 31st May ’08.

In order to ensure quality content & participation, the OFAC will accept entries from only BFA, MFA Graduates, Diploma Holders & Final year Diploma Students. Each participant will submit 2 entries through our website http://www.smartnu.com/

To view details please click on link below
http://www.smartnu.com/ofac/main.html

From the applications received, the jury will select 12 finalists.
The winner and runner up will be selected from amongst those 12 finalists.
The results of the competition will be announced on 20th June 2008.

Do go through the terms and conditions carefully
http://www.smartnu.com/ofac/OFAC-TermsConditions-English.pdf


Best of Luck!
NM

Buying at an Auction - a few tips

Auctions of Indian modern and contemporary art are gaining in popularity with new auction houses coming up and with an overall increase in demand for Indian art.
The biggest advantage with buying at an auction is that an artwork that is rare or rates high on a collector’s wish list is likely to come up only at such events. And, therefore when a collector or an investor picks up such an artwork, prices are only going to appreciate in the future. This is not to say that auctions are only for the seasoned collector or investor. New buyers looking to add value to their investment portfolio may also consider picking up a few good pieces at an auction. When buying at an auction the credentials and the reputation of the auction house is a very important factor that needs to be considered.

Here are a few pointers for prospective buyers looking to bid at an auction:
Prospective buyers need to register themselves, either at an official website for an online auction or with the auction house at a physical auction prior to the event. Usually there is a detailed form that needs to be filled up.
The catalogue listing all details pertinent to the artworks (lots) and other sale details are available through the auction house.
One must carefully go through the catalogue and check the information regarding the artists, size, medium, provenance and the estimated prices.
Once you have short-listed the artworks you are interested in, you should validate them at the viewing, which is organized before the actual auction date. Generally the viewing is organised at one or more venues (it could even be different cities) and offers an opportunity for the prospective buyer to get a feel for the artwork (check its condition, etc).
Go though the fine print regarding service charges, taxes, commissions and other charges, if any.
Find out about the bidding procedure – it can be usually done in person, through a representative or over the phone, and on the Internet, in case of an online auction.

It is always advisable that you consider your budget and define your upper limit before you actually start bidding.

(Published in Financial Times)

Sculpture by the Sea

Last week, I talked about Reghu and his sculptures. And, coincidentally, a press release that came to me recently from Australia was also about an art fest held there in the month of March. At the fourth annual Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe exhibition in Perth, the Cottesloe Beach was transformed into a sculptural delight. The event featured 54 entries from Western Australian artists and invited artists from across the world (12 other countries) for instance Iceland, Japan and India. This happens to be Australia’s largest outdoor public exhibition of contemporary sculptures, and in fact there’s another one coming up - ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ in Bondi, Sydney, in October.
Now, the Indian artist who participated in this show was Abir Patwardhan, a sculptor who studied at the M S University, Baroda, and lives in Pune. He, in fact, exhibited his sculptures in Bangalore last year with a show ‘Prayer for the Porcupine’, a delightful series of whimsical works done in beaten copper. In Australia too, Abir’s work, ‘New Beginning’, was very popular and was bought by a local buyer. Good for Indian art.

Abir Patwardhan's 'New Beginning'

An open air exhibition of sculptures sounds like an extremely exciting prospect both for the artist and the viewer. One sincerely hopes that the concept of a project like this can be replicated or adapted here.
Strangely enough, I read that this year during the Harmony show in Mumbai, no awards were given to the emerging sculptor category. Apparently, the reason given was that there were no good quality competitors in that segment. What a pity. Where have all the good sculptors gone?
Sculptures are now gaining more acceptance as an investment instrument and artists such as Subodh Gupta and Ravinder Reddy are doing exceptionally well at international auctions. Most sculptures by well-established artists translate into good money, comparable to that of paintings. However, at the micro-level, the problem with sculptures is that you have to find a suitable place to display them. Size can be a major deterrent and unless you live in a sprawling bungalow, it is an impossible task to find an appropriate location for a decent-sized sculpture. Also, sculpting requires special facilities to be able to work with different materials and media. It takes more time and effort to create a sculpture. It is no surprise then that there are a lot more painters than sculptors in the country.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Is decorative art an investment?

With so much being written and discussed on art, it is no surprise that most people would like to own a few works of art. But, unfortunately with rising prises the gap between art lovers and artworks has significantly increased. Therefore, even if one covets a Subodh Gupta or a TV Santosh, very few may actually be able to afford them. It is no surprise then that people look for suitable alternatives or substitutes. And, this is where decorative art finds its niche. Paintings and assemblages are growing in popularity. Often these are made by hobby painters and other small time artists and although they may be aesthetically pleasing and coordinating well with the décor, these are unlikely to be a sound investment from a financial angle.

In fact, thanks to the interest in everything related to art, the decorative art industry is growing and thriving. They are quick to produce artworks that have a mass appeal - brightly coloured landscapes, so called abstracts and reproductions of famous paintings form some of the popular choices. Ornate, elaborate and ‘fancy’ frames help in enhancing the visual factor. One has to admit these fit well into the interior décor scheme and add an element of ‘art’ on the walls. Costing anywhere from Rs 5000 to up to even a lakh or more these have become an integral part of home and office décor and no one can deny their ‘trendy’ look.
The biggest advantage with such artwork is that it can be customized specifically to the client’s needs. Furnishings, wall colours, and other accents can be coordinated with the artwork to give a unique feel. The disadvantage, if it can be called that is that these can hardly ever be a financial investment and will therefore lack in resale value. But then as most buyers who opt for such works will be looking at it from a different perspective, it is a win-win situation for all.

(Published in Financial Times)

Ceramic art (Sculptures by G Reghu)

I first came across Reghu’s sculptures about four years ago. Tiny ceramic figures that were based on groupings of men, women and children in animated postures caught my eye. Simple, earthy and quite minimal the figures seemed to be suspended mid-air while depicting various emotions. What stood out the most was their innocent child-like charm. Reghu hasn’t changed much over the years but his sculptures are now larger, they sport a ‘glaze’ finish, and there is a lot more variation in the grouping of figures. The artist comes from a traditional agricultural family, and his sculptures are also inspired by rural lifestyles and traditions. One can even say that his art is an ode to the Indian villager and celebrates their indomitable spirit as they go about their daily existence. Mother and child, or the entire family, cows, and heads of men and women form some of his sculptures. The simplicity and the banality of everyday life that he depicts characterize his figures. At the preview these sculptures were arranged in a garden where they formed a charming set of artworks. In fact, some of these figures reclining on chairs are quite amusing to look at. Devoid of embellishments, the small figures and also the larger sets strike a chord with their rustic appeal.

Reghu’s style of working involves sketching out his sculptures in detail through drawings. He then follows essentially the coil technique to create the figures, which he then fires in a wood kiln, and uses special techniques to obtain a glossy or a glazed look. He incidentally is a graduate in sculpture from the College of Fine Arts, Trivandram and although he began with stone as a medium, he later moved on to working with indigenous materials. He was closely associated with J. Swaminathan at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and that has also strongly influenced his works.
His sculptures have no doubt evolved over the years and he has experimented with bronze as well. However, one hopes to see more variation in his choice of theme and the medium in future.

(An exhibition of his sculptures was on till March 26 at Time and Space Art Gallery, Bangalore)

( - Published in Bangalore Mirror)