Indian Artists on Christie’s
I’d read about this sometime back but did not get the time to post.
Three Indian artists have sold their paintings for a total of $70 Million via an auction on Christie’s. The complete article as reported by DNA can be found here.
I managed to get thumbnails of what the paintings look like - none of the news stories were carrying the pictures and they are as following:
Chintan Upadhyay : Mutant
Ashim : Fake Error
Harsha : Melting Wit
It does get better and better for Indian Art and Indian artists. The above artists are supposed to be “new” on the scene and not in the league of Raza or Hussain but have done exceedingly well in the auction. One of the factors that might contribute to an artist’s paintings’ popularity might be the name of the painting - or it seems from the above.
January 8th, 2007 14:19
I don’t live in India anymore - nor do I follow Indian art too much - but then I came across your website and this post had me thinking.
You’re right about the impact of title of painting. I don’t suppose many artists can hope to sell “untitled” paintings - which is what most abstract paintings should really be.
I believe that the name of the artist makes quite a bit of difference also. Someone with my name can’t hope to get much from potential buyer’s.
And it might not be specifically an Indian phenomenon. I suppose in last couple of decades, a will to make an “effort” has been lost from the world. Be it Wine, Music, Art or Cuisine - the snobbery has been ‘plutoed’.
January 9th, 2007 23:04
Abstract paintings have titles according to the painter’s/artist’s perspective - so it’s obvious that not everyone will see the same meaning - but traditionally everyone gives a title to their paintings and expecting to change that norm is non-pragmatic. Even if I wanted to take that step [ for example ], my first worry would be “How will the painting sell further if all my paintings are called ‘untitled’?”
As for the artist’s name - I think that’s upto the artist. The more controversy you generate, the more you will be in the public eye and the higher will be the interest in your work. Whatever your name might be! Rishi Chibber’s a nice name for selling paintings if you ask me
And I agree with you on the “effort being plutoed” part - from the feedback I have received from art dealers and artists, people with money will buy pretty much anything as long as it is done in oil on canvas
Thanks a bunch for stopping by Rishi, yours is one of the most articulate comment on this blog so far. I appreciate it.
January 11th, 2007 15:27
re: Painting Title : You have a point - although it poses art as means to an end (Not that there’s anything wrong with that :-)).
January 17th, 2008 17:02
Yep - I think you are right on again..