'Sunday Art Haat': A step to promote budding artists

Art is much more than just a medium of creative expressions. To be commercial is a call of the moment for artists or else wise they would be left alone. The growing number of art auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, Saffron Art etc. is a proof how essential it has become for artists to be self-marketer in order to survive in the art field. And our country is not an exception in this.

But the irony is that in our country where there are hundreds of art institutes, art schools and art galleries, we can count the galleries/institutions on our fingers that come forward to represent fresh graduates from such art institutions. And if few of them get a gallery as their representative, they have to pay its price in the form of commissions. So where should they go? To answer this very question, the Lalit Kala Akademi has initiated a concept called 'Sunday Art Haat', where there will be a direct interaction between artists and buyers without any mediation. While inaugurating 'Sunday Art Haat', the administrator of Lalit Kala Akademi, C S Krishna Setty said, "It is our endeavour to help and support young and budding talent, especially those artists who are struggling to find a gallery or don't necessarily have a big body of work ready for an exhibition yet. The scene completely differs in the West. People of cities like Paris, London, New York etc. are well versed about the places where they would find affordable artworks. 'Sunday Art Haat' is an initiative in that very direction.

Currently, we are providing spaces to artists at very nominal costs but the Akademi is planning to make it free for them in upcoming time."

Mentioning about a plan of building a permanent space for the event, Setty said, "For the buyers, it will give them an opportunity to acquire art at affordable prices without gallery commissions and such deterrents".

Vishalakshi Nigam, Secretary in charge, Lalit Kala Akademi; Bhisham Mirani, Garhi centre in charge; participating artists like Rajesh Srivastava, Rituparna Chopra, Kumud Mohinder, Rekha Kapur etc., apart from art collectors and buyers, attended the inauguration at the Regional Centre Garhi.