Wednesday 6 October 2010

Tiger-Tiger burning bright.....




I am taming a tiger in my space! Well when the Artiger project team sent me this rather clumsily executed seated fibre glass tiger I was rather nonplussed as I had assumed that it would be a standing tigress! Well my tiger was all male (!) and so the first thing I did was to snip off the manhood of this poor beast!!! Suffice to say a beautiful pink second tail grew in its place over night!


Pukkaar billi-billi . The work slowly transforms and as I sit writing my blog the blue tiger with pink oriental lilies painted on its spine, guards me from its perch with wide eyed intensity and new found elegance!


Chatting with my gallerist this morning I spoke about how I wished there were more spaces of experimentation for artists in India. Where physical spaces could become sites that were intervened with, rather than have art only as objects of adornment as is the case most often. Corporate offices, banks, hospitals, airports, railway stations, private homes.....the list is long, the possibilities infinite. Ceilings, walls, staircases, windows, floors, basins......anything.....everything; just waiting to be transformed!


When the Bombay international airport was being "artified" I was approached to give a work of art that was to be "hung" on a wall. The terms and conditions of engagement were so unprofessional, that such ideas become spaces of charity instead of venues that can truly do something outstanding and genuine. The consideration of the safety of the work, the ownership, etc was just swept under the carpet with the usual explanation that "the budget" doesn't accommodate these factors. Ah well!!! Chalta hai India jai ho!


A young friend who owns a hotel in Baroda spoke about her interest of creating a small collection of art within the hotel premises that showcases Baroda art. What one hopes is that the bartering mentality that believes bargaining is essential when acquiring art, does not interface into this idea, because then quality and history gets automatically compromised, which is truly such a pity.


Today I have ten kilos of rose petals drying in my studio, remnants from the presentation of my ceramic art work Wired at the heart ....let's see what surprises I can conjure for myself from the magic hat of my own imagination !!!

5 comments:

  1. Today my mother celebrated her 76th birthday. Rekhajee, may I take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that this blogspace offers me to pay hommage to all those exceptional moms who, though they may share a fusional relationship with their daughters, have enough love & vision to not smother them with the 'I have sacrificed a great deal for you' attitude which becomes a terrible noose around the neck.
    So here's a small ode to our mothers...
    'Your arms were always open when I needed a hug,
    Your heart understood me when I needed a friend,
    Your strength and love have given me wings to fly
    Thanks Ma.'

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  2. Rekhajee, having read this and some other posts as well, some questions have been trotting my mind... How does one estimate a work of art?
    What factors are taken into consideration when an artist quotes a price he is willing to sell his work for? A buyer is not always an art lover, he may be considering the painting in a purely speculative way... perhaps in the future its value might soar way up high, he might in a cynical way, wish that the artist in unable to create any more so that he may be have in his possession a rare, priceless piece...
    A work of art is not a merchandise like any other... personally I would consider it humiliating if a potential buyer tried to undermine my work by negotiating the price. Would you care to say anything about this? Thank You in advance for your comments.

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  3. Anamikajan thank you for reading my blog. It is such a delight to get your responses. Regarding your enquiry about pricing a work. There are methods that allow artists to know where they slot themselves within an art market. Like all factors, demand determines value. As I am represented exculsively by one gallery I operate slightly differently by choice than many other Indian artists who often manage their careers by being with multiple galleries. I also choose not to be directly involved with the transactional aspects of my art. This keeps a space I need for myself which is private and inexcessable. Nobody other than close friends are invited into my studio and my gallerist and I share a relationship that is very special.

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  4. Thank you for answering my query, it has given me a good idea of how one can find the right equation between creation and 'business.' It is indeed an excellent choice of not mingling the two, the galery you are affiliated to must be proud to have this great privelege of representing your work. I wish you continued success in your quest for perfection, whatever form it may take.

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  5. This particular piece is written magnificently. Its really touching to see that art is not valued today as much as it was in ancient days. Country needs artists like you who value and respect creativity and culture... Hope to see and read more of you.. (No bargains)

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