There is a question making the rounds. Are art and art shows
only for the elite? Blame it on the wine, hors d’oeuvres and Page 3 spots. But
the truth is, art is anything but exclusive. “There is the general expression
that art is elitist. Everyone wants to be seen on Page 3 and everybody wants to
know what they are drinking, who they are seen with and what they are wearing.
There is no harm in this except for the fact that there is never any serious
critique about the art work per se,” says renowned installation artist, Subodh
Kerkar. Happy that art has evolved to a large extent in Goa, he however hopes
that art is taken to and becomes a movement of the masses of the calibre he
witnessed at his showing at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2015 recently. “Over
five lakh people, some who have never gone to an art gallery, visited the
biennale,” he reveals.
Fairly new to the art scene since 2005, charcoal/etching
artist Loretti Pinto endorses the need for art critiquing in public space. “Art
is not getting its due respect,” she maintains. “I am embarrassed when only my
picture, not my art, appears on Page 3. We keep audiences from learning more
about art and genuine people are deterred from attending.”
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
On the art scene for over 30 years, Harshada Kerkar, famed
for her powerful charcoal drawings of children, believes that art galleries
themselves call the shots. “Certain galleries like Gallery Gitanjali go all out
to help the artist while some others cater to a different crowd and are not
necessarily artist-oriented,” she states.
Keen to make art an experience for everyone, gallerist
Miriam Koshy of Gallery Gitanjali, Panjim avers that their mission is to invite
people from all walks of life to experience art, irrespective whether they love
art or not. “I do not want it to be exclusive. I invite art collectors as well
as the public. All kinds of people attend. There are those who like to
socialise and enjoy an interesting evening and there are those who are
genuinely interested in art. As a Page 3 event it tends to draw new people, but
in the process they are also being exposed to art,” she maintains.
With an overflow of art shows, artists, art collectors and
investors claiming a stake in the art scene, has art for art’s sake been able
to hold sway? “It’s a balance of art and commerce,” observes renowned
contemporary artist Viraj Naik. “Artists need a source of livelihood to pursue
their art. There are a lot of collectors and investors coming to Goa. The only
problem in Goa is that there is no circulation of art here. Only people from
outside Goa or the rich buy art. People in Goa need to be educated about art
and the identity of artists to invest in it,” he maintains.
An art collector for over 20 years, Dona Paula-based
businessman, Gautam Amonkar avers that “the real culture of a place is the kind
of art it produces. There is a huge change over the past 30 years and a lot of
players – artists and collectors – have entered the market and this is likely
to increase. People today enjoy keeping art works in their homes, although they
may not be collectors. Appeal and affordability are determining factors,” he
observes.
To experience art for art’s sake is ultimately the bigger
aim!
