Now, Chennai is the canvas for artists

Chennai, July 30: The sale of work of arts and paintings in the city has increased manifold due to the rapid growth of IT, hospitality and tourism industry.

The boom witnessed in these industries had further transformed the city into a sought after destination for artists from across the nation. The average sale of paintings and other works of art in each art gallery in the city is testimony to the growth of art industry.

According to Chennai Lalit Kala Akademi Superintendent K Ayyadurai, the number of exhibitions organised by individual artists and private art gallaries are on the rise.

''In the current year till July, about 25 individual artists and 10 private organisations have conducted exhibitions in the Akademy.

Though majority of the artists are from South India, the number of artists from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata have increased manifold.

The response from people is excellent. The number of enquiries from Corporate houses and agents, who provide paintings to hotels and other corporate firms are on the rise. We just forward them to the artists concerned and the deal is signed between them '', he said.

An owner of a private art gallery, who has been into the trade business for over ten years, said the climate was good for investing in paintings.

''The takers for paintings are on the rise, but they tend to bargain, if the artist is not so renowned. Apart from corporate buyers, certain high spending individuals are showing more interest in buying paintings nowadays.

It has become a fashion to adorn the walls with paintings, but an average buyer cannot afford to buy works of Hussain or Sobha Singh, so they opt for paintings of new artists. A really good work can fetch upto Rs 50,000 to 75,000 for a new artist'', he said. He said high price of paintings was yet another factor that kept certain individual buyers at bay. The number of visitors, who come to see the works are on the rise.

To an extent, the aesthetic sense of majority of people is still towards the normal and appealing paintings of landscapes rather than post-modern and surrealistic works.

Only people with a taste for different art style and schools of thought are serious about buying these works. Others look for something common and simple that can just add beauty to their walls, he added.

Akademi Award winner and renowned artist K V Haridasan, settled at Cholamandal Artists Village Chennai, said the present trend was more favourable for the art industry compared to other metros or cities.

'' The number of connoisseurs are increasing day by day. An artist can find lot of patrons here. As far as a South Indian artist is concerned, the city has become a perfect platform.

He can reach out to entire nation or overseas by operating from Chennai. Earlier, he or she had to go to Delhi or Mumbai for a wider exposure. Presently, the city provides the right ambience. For that matter, the industrial boom, which brings in lot of overseas entrepreneurs and visitors provides an artist a much larger audience'', he added.

UNI