Monday, September 2, 2013

Deciphering Sunil Gawde’s art practice

A proficient art practitioner, Sunil Gawde, blends his artistic sensibility and immense creativity with highly refined fine design & craft skills. His set of tools often includes an array of sophisticated paint materials and peculiar implements, such as trowels, scrapers etc that together attain a layered depth and feel in his pigments.

This also leads to textured surfaces that appear both dynamic and dramatic. Often metaphysical and metaphorical, Sunil gawde’s creations deftly take shape, as he expertly mutates complex philosophy with ubiquitous objects from day-to-day life to which he gives a new interpretation.

A painter, sculptor, and installation artist, all rolled in one, his philosophy has always been not to lose his originality, always staying true to his inner voice and never resorting to short cuts. Known to be a perseverant innovator, he has steadily moved away from his earlier minimalist, 2-dimensional creations to large-scale, more ambitious and thought-provoking sculptures and dynamic multi-media installations.

Summing up his work and processes, he has stated, "I try and build up a rhythm; it's a physical thing. Intellect and planning only go so far. When I paint, something is hammering in here. At times, I like to go to extremes: to the edge. I know there are no short cuts. Each picture has to have its own sincerity."

Among his other selected solos are 'Alliteration', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai (2010); '8 Seconds Ahead of Time, Sakshi Gallery, Bangalore (2002); '1mm', Sakshi, Mumbai (2001); and 'Oblique', a traveling show in Mumbai, Chennai, Baroda, and New Delhi (1998); shows at Prithvi Art Gallery, Mumbai, ABC Art Gallery, Varanasi (1995); Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata (1994), Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai along with Jindal Art Foundation (1993), and  Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (1990).

Regarding  his ‘Alliteration’, Jitish Kallat has mentioned: “It’s an advanced variation of a similar piece from his sculptural series ‘Blind Bulb etc.’ (2005). I have a distinct memory of standing before it even as the interplaying black-and-white lunar forms moved at different speeds evoking a mechanical montage of an anomalous sky. While viewing his work-in-progress two artists from very diverse cultural backgrounds and generations came to my mind; Nam June Paik  and Darren Almond. While their widely differing practices have very little formal or mediumistic affinity with his, a fleeting reference on particular works by these artists might aid the viewing of the series.”

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Insight and tips to buy quality art

Collecting is vitally important for the domain of art, to harness talented artists’ potential and boost the galleries in their endeavor to promote good art. Secret of building a quality art collection lies in remembering and understanding the fact that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’. The key is to grasp what makes a collection timeless.

Contemporary art is sure one of the most bankable alternative assets that you can treasure even as it gradually appreciates. If you are not too much aware of intricacies of modern art, but have a fair understanding of what you like, now is the time to start investing into a work by the Subodh Gupta or the Jitish Kallat of tomorrow. But how really to spot the next superstar on the horizon!

This is a long-drawn process that should begin with the basics. And that’s what exactly what we are trying to spell out! In continuation of our series on simplifying the intricacies of buying art, we offer insight and tips for keen collectors who want to build a quality portfolio. The aim is to simplify the complex elements of buying art, trying to move away from the jargon of it!

Following pointers will be of help:

1.    In-depth market research in order to stay tuned to the latest developments in the domain of art

2.    Elaborate study of an artist’s growth trajectory, his academic background, galleries represented

3.    Clear idea about the time frame and gestation period for the work to grow in value

4.    Analysis of the formal concerns and how they relate to the core idea of the work

5.    Grasping of how well the ideas/ concepts are communicated in context of contemporary times

6.    Understanding the nuances of contemporary art practice and a grasp of art history

7.    Evaluating a piece of art in terms of its physical characteristics and longevity that also impact its value.

In essence, when planning to buy a work of art, do not merely think in terms of the market trends and value benchmarks. Try and understand what makes an artwork unique.