After months away from the art world, Sanjana Shah believes art lovers are clamouring for the interaction a physical show brings. (In pic: Sanjana Shah with Sapna Kar, left)
A few months ago, the thought of attending an art show ‘in person’ was unthinkable. But as people slowly venture out of their houses with safety precautions in place, Tao Art Gallery creative director Sanjana Shah believes this is the perfect time to bring back physical shows.
Jaideep Mehrotra's Morph 1, 2020 (Watercolour on Arches Paper) “The pandemic took the art scene completely virtual. Online viewings became the new norm. Initially, the art world did suffer a setback but I think we were quick to recover as an industry,” said Shah. “We have been open for visitors since September on an appointment basis but this is the first time we are opening up the gallery for a larger show. I think it’s high time!”
“I think everyone has been craving to go out for a nice evening filled with art and culture and December being a happy holiday month, it seemed like the perfect time to make this show happen,” she added.
Kisalay Vora, Ganga Aarti (Oil on canvas) Their first physical art exhibition post lockdown – ‘Textures and Layers’ - previewed on 15th December 2020 and features mixed media work by six contemporary artists - Revati Sharma Singh, Kisalay Vora, Jaideep Mehrotra, Michelle Poonawalla, Kalpana Shah and Shruti Jhaveri. Open for visits by appointment only, the exhibition will continue till 10th January 2021.
Online vs IRL
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A staunch advocate of art being experienced in person, Shah believes art will never be only about online viewings. “I have always believed that the art piece is as much about the creator as it is about the viewer. The engagement, the interaction, is crucial and can only be done thoroughly when one is physically present to see it in all its forms and angles. However, online shows will still continue and even for this show we are doing a virtual 3D accompaniment for those who are still afraid to venture out.”
Michelle Poonawala, Desert Rose, 2020 (Mixed media) Co-curator Sapna Kar agrees that virtual shows are here to stay. “There is no denying that the Indian consumer is getting increasingly comfortable with the online medium – it saves cost and expands reach. But the dynamics of consuming art in person are different. When you stand in front of a work of art, there is a dialogue between the work and the viewer, which is individual and personal. It’s a connection with all senses. So virtual shows will not replace the original format of interacting with art, and both formats will co-exist.”
Shruti Jhaveri, The Blossoming, 2020 (Paper with mix media on canvas) To capitalise on the advantage both formats provide, Shah recommends tailoring collections to suit each format. “The key will be to choose art that can be done justice to when viewed online and for physical shows, the thematic curation has to be strong enough to be eye-catching at a time when everyone is trying to grab eyeballs online.”
Banksy, KAWS & More: 5 Things To Know About Collecting Street Art
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Street art is no longer spray painting on bus stops, street corners and walls. It’s making its way into your home, and if you’re a collector, it’s a genre to consider.
Works by pioneers such as Haring, Stik, Banksy and KAWS have gained popularity in recent years as we have seen an urban liberation of art media, pushing through the conventional parameters of paper, cardboard and canvas and on to pavement, sidewalks, subways and the bricks of buildings.
As the personification of movement, freedom and spontaneity, art inspired by graffiti has taken centre stage, both literally in scale and visibility and in its burgeoning popularity.
Street art is no longer spray painting on bus stops, street corners and walls. It’s making its way into your home, and if you’re a collector, it’s a genre to consider.Works by pioneers such as Haring..
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“Since the hip-hop crews of Philadelphia and New York turned graffiti into an elaborate language, encrypted in a range of unique styles, Street art has become an established art form. While its very public presence may scream manifesto, perhaps with subversive intent, Street art nonetheless promotes a sense of the uncompromising, a radical ethos that consistently attracts clusters of fervent supporters throughout the world,” says Noah Davis, Specialist, Post War and Contemporary Art at Christie’s Inc. They share their tips on what you need to know if you’re considering going street.
In pic: INVADER (b. 1969), Alias SP_43, 2011. Ceramic tiles on perspex. 28? x 14 in (71.5 x 35.6 cm). Estimate $40,000-60,000. Offered in Trespassing, 5-19 August 2020, Online
“Since the hip-hop crews of Philadelphia and New York turned graffiti into an elaborate language, encrypted in a range of unique styles, Street art has become an established art form. While its very ..
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Artists inspired by graffiti often revisit a theme or rely on a repeated technique in their work, creating a recognisable trademark that forms an essential part of their visual vocabulary. Haring developed his man figure; Jean-Michel Basquiat combined symbols and epigrams; and Banksy fashions irreverent, politically-charged subjects.
In pic: Left - KAWS (b. 1974), Untitled Ad Disruption (Prima/Paris), 1999. Acrylic on found advertising poster. 68 x 47¾ in (173.5 x 120.1 cm). Estimate: $100,000-150,000. Offered in Trespassing, 5-19 August 2020, Online
Right - KAWS (B. 1974), Untitled (Astro Boy), 2003. Hand-painted resin. 18½ x 12 x 4½ in (47 x 32 x 11.2 cm). Estimate: $150,000-200,000. Offered in Trespassing, 5-19 August 2020, Online
Artists inspired by graffiti often revisit a theme or rely on a repeated technique in their work, creating a recognisable trademark that forms an essential part of their visual vocabulary. Haring dev..
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Some street artworks are site-specific, such as Haring’s infamous ‘Crack Is Wack’, a 1986 public project still visible along the Harlem River Drive in New York City. As a way to represent the whole, a distinct element of the work may be replicated in a more portable form. Haring’s iconic figures and symbols repeat throughout his oeuvre, finding themselves not only on his murals and canvases but also on his screen prints. This is also true for artists such as Stik and Banksy.
In pic: Banksy (b. 1975), Girl with Balloon — Colour AP (Gold), 2004. Screenprint in black and gold. Sheet 695 x 495 mm. Sold for £395,250, 24 Sep 2019, Online
Some street artworks are site-specific, such as Haring’s infamous ‘Crack Is Wack’, a 1986 public project still visible along the Harlem River Drive in New York City. As a way to represent the whole, ..
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Street art can be easily duplicated. As stencils can be used and infinitely reused, the question of originality that plagues all art becomes particularly critical for this genre. Consult a specialist. For prints, it is extremely important that they match the catalogue raisonné for the artist or compare well to other examples from the edition.
In pic: HAROSHI X KARIMOKU (b. 1978), BE@RBRICK KARIMOKU HAROSHI 400%, 2019. Repurposed skate deck maple wood
Street art can be easily duplicated. As stencils can be used and infinitely reused, the question of originality that plagues all art becomes particularly critical for this genre. Consult a specialist..
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Street art is, by its very nature, exposed to the elements more than other kinds of art. Restoration may be possible — some artists, such as Stik, make a point of personally touching up their works in situ whenever they can — but some level of wear is to be expected. Collectors should keep in mind that, as with any kind of artwork, condition may impact the perceived value of a piece.
In pic:D*FACE (b. 1978), London — LA, 2014. Acrylic and printed paper collage on panel. 60 x 48 in (152.40 x 121.92 cm). Estimate: $12,000-18,000. Offered in Trespassing, 5-19 August 2020, Online
Street art is, by its very nature, exposed to the elements more than other kinds of art. Restoration may be possible — some artists, such as Stik, make a point of personally touching up their works i..
Read More
Since Street Art is a relatively new movement in art history, it’s important to know what came before in order to understand where it’s going. Most are aware that graffiti — and more specifically, Wild Style — represented the nascent form of Street art in the 1970s, but Pop art also paved the way, incorporating many of the same topics for the first time, from mass consumerism to elements of pop culture.
In pic: Barry McGee (b. 1966), [Untitled], 2007. Double-sided — silkscreen on envelope. 10¾ x 6? in (27.3 x 16 cm). Estimate: $2,000-3,000. Offered in Trespassing, 5-19 August 2020, Online
Since Street Art is a relatively new movement in art history, it’s important to know what came before in order to understand where it’s going. Most are aware that graffiti — and more specifically, Wi..
