Contemporary art and trends

(Nalini S Malaviya)

According to recent trends there has been a perceptible shift in the buying pattern and contemporary art has emerged strongly as a viable avenue for investment. And, although modern artists continue to do well, the focus on contemporary art has resulted in the remarkable growth of this sector. One finds that the serious art collector is more inclined to invest in contemporary artists. What makes this an attractive proposition is that contemporary art often combines unique concepts with innovation in execution and medium. Plus, as contemporary art is doing well at international auctions, it is a win-win situation for the artist and the collector.

The buyer profile has also broadened and there are a greater number of people from a younger age group who are developing a passion for art. The younger profile brings fresh sensibilities and their buying pattern tends to be more accepting of newer concepts and mediums. With buyers coming of age and changing mindsets there is greater interest in art that is often unconventional and even radical.


Overall, the awareness about art, its intrinsic value and its investment potential has increased dramatically over the last few years. Viewers are now more open to all kinds of art. Artists too are in an experimental mode and one gets to view different kinds of art in small and big cities, especially the latter. With greater exposure to art, there are artists too from small towns who are not afraid to think big – they surprise the viewer with their innovative concepts.

Although, there are limited takers for conceptual art, there is greater appreciation for it now as compared to say, two years ago. In fact, many collectors especially those aged under 40 who are saturated with conventional art are increasingly turning to new media and contemporary thought in art. On the other hand, conventional art which is more decorative in nature is still very popular with traditional mindsets.

"Call for Artists: The Art in Nature Fine Art Photography Show " 2008-09-04 until 2008-09-16

"Call for Artists: The Art in Nature Fine Art Photography Show " 2008-09-04 until 2008-09-16 Center for Fine Art Photography Fort Collins, CO, USA United States of America
(IMAGE After Storm, Huangshan Mountains, China, Leping Zha)

The Center for Fine Art Photography announces their call for entries for "The Art in Nature Fine Art Photography Show" - deadline September 16, 2008. The show offer $600 in Awards. The Art in Nature will illustrate all aspects of nature in its many tableaus: landscape, seascape, wildlife, floral, water, environment, and weather. The exhibition is open to all domestic and international, professional and amateur photographers working with digital or traditional photography or combination of both.

Information and online submissions at The Center for Fine Art Photography http://www.c4fap.org/ or email questions to cfe@c4fap.org .
Exhibition and Awards: With selection for this exhibition, artists and their work will be seen by an international audience of collectors, curators, art consultants and others who appreciate the fine art of photography.

Details on http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2008/09/04/35175.html

Art Buzz (Bangalore) Sheela Gowda

Art and media

(Nalini S Malaviya)

As I have mentioned in the past as well, art has emerged as one of the safest investment options, provided one does a thorough research. Media coverage of art and artists has also increased proportionally and it is common to see artists featured on Page 3. And, coverage of art shows is also a constant in dailies. A reader wrote to say he was compiling a list of all artists that have been covered in local newspapers as a prospective list of artists worth investing in, and here I would like to point out, that presence in the media and investment potential are two separate issues. What one needs to realise is that not all artists that are featured in local newspapers and publications necessarily make for a sound financial investment. Interesting art, brand value/seniority of the artist and sometimes strong PR could be the reason for featuring an artist or his/her work. In fact, it could be something as simple as filling up the designated page. Therefore, one may find that the media coverage of an artist could be unrelated to the quality or investment value of their art.

Having said that, artists who are featured often in the media, are those who are likely to be in the news for their art or for their performance at auctions. In which case, they are also those who are likely to make their mark professionally. Keeping track of artists and their exhibitions is an excellent way to familiarise oneself with the art scene. One can learn a lot about different genres of art, styles and trends. One can combine this information with research and one should be able to invest wisely.

Picture is for illustration purpose only

One also comes across the term ‘investment artist’ often. I feel that this is a much abused term and happens to be a very convenient phrase to sell art to unsuspecting buyers. That is why it is so important to empower yourself with knowledge about art. It not only helps you in making decisions regarding what to buy but it also enriches your life. One is able to better understand art in context with its times and relate to abstract concepts, as well.
Another great way to enhance knowledge is by visiting art exhibitions, the more one looks at art the more one connects with it.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)

Art Buzz (Bangalore) Group Show