Aakriti's Affordable Art Mela
Vikram Bachawat has been doing exciting affordable art exhibitions for the past many years. As a collector and gallery persona, he does not need an introduction. Earlier, he ran one of the finest places in Delhi, however now – he can be seen working in a sophisticated space in Kolkata - the Aakriti gallery – which is hosting the 6th edition of 'Affordable September Art Mela' in the city.
The mela runs until September 29.
"After completing five successful editions of the fair at the gallery, we look forward to offering this special opportunity to our patrons," says Bachawat.
"We at Aakriti Art Gallery, constantly strive to make art more accessible to all. 'Affordable Art Mela' hopes to bring art into the lives of people who harbour a passion and love for it," he added.
The gallery will be showcasing the works of over a hundred artists with more than a thousand artworks within the range of 1000 to 1,00,000 INR. This is a one-of-a-kind occasion for art enthusiasts to collect original pieces of art at the best prices. The pursuit of owning great works of art should not be limited to a few. The pleasure of living with and savouring great works of art is incomparable to merely looking at them in galleries.
While the best names are there in the circuit, there are line drawings by Jogen Chowdhury – a rare Ram Kumar and a couple of other amazing works that come for a song. Of particular delight is Sudip Roy's impressionist rendition of the rickshaw. Colours and strokes of surreal scattering are his leitmotifs and this composition celebrates the finest of watercolour studies.
On one side, the generally somber palette of Roy is read symbolically through the lens of street scene traditions, often underscoring life's transience. Alternatively, we can assess the artist's skill in employing an array of visual effects in this scene.
Among sculptures in the small format is a delightful set of goats in bronze by Asim Basu. Filled with the richness of the narrative, certain deeper meanings come into focus once you look beyond the metaphors and artistic insights of sculptors and painters. Equally enticing is Lalu Prasad Shaw's portrait on the paper.
The affordable art show has something for everyone. It also offers an uncanny perspective on our own times, in which globalism and consumer culture seem to be reaching a peak, once again in tandem with one another. What are the true social costs of today's most sought-after items, and why do people love to show them off? These works tell us that collectors can begin young and at humble prices.
