Bhelpuri - a collection of short stories

It is time for some self promotion. Again. Some of my short stories have been published as part of the anthology, Bhelpuri - a diverse collection of stories crisp and crunchy, sweet and tangy, spicy and juicy ... just like that honest street food so essentially India. But, with a difference.


Bhelpuri is an offering from Inklinks ... a group of Bangalore women writers whose passion for word craft has brought them together. Some are young, some are senior, some are professionals, but they are all word-lovers. Joined by their common zeal for observing life and creating new people, new worlds. Each in her own individual style ....


Now available at Crossword, Residency Road, Bangalore.
Also at Sankars, Strand, Gangarams & DC Books, Bangalore.

Make sure you pick the original. Say NO to piracy.

Keep an eye on art trends

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

In the recent months there has been a definitive shift in the kind of art that is being displayed at exhibitions across major centers in the country. The works have evolved and become more experimental in nature. Interestingly, many mainstream artists too are experimenting with new mediums.
New media art or installations, video and digital art are increasingly seen now and are also gaining acceptance in a wider audience. Although, these new media works have been around for several years, their sales were limited to a select group of art collectors and connoisseurs. Some of the artists who are experimenting with new media are Gigi Scaria, Pushpamala N, Manjunath Kamath, Riyaz Komu, Shilpa Gupta, Vivan Sundaram, Surekha and Sudarshan Shetty. In fact, sales of this form of art has picked up in the recent months. Collectors are now on the lookout for newer concepts that have been presented through novel media. And, although, conventional art, such as paintings and sculpture continue to be popular with its patrons, it does appear that the trend is moving perceptibly towards newer forms of art.

International auctions too have been including new media art, but now that there are so many artists who are gravitating towards this genre, that collectors have to be cautious about evaluating the investment potential of each of these.
Still, this is an exciting phase for collectors and investors. There is a lot of activity happening in the field of art and the choices have widened too. And, there is every indication that the Indian art scene is looking up, and although at this point sales may not reflect this trend to that extent it should be a matter of time before the art market sees the loosening of purse strings. Reports and analyses regarding the amount of time it would take for the Indian art market to recover actively varies somewhat, there appears to be consensus that it should be soon enough.

(Published in Financial Times)

Allocate appropriate budget when investing in art

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

There are many people who would like to buy art but are unclear as to how to go about it. Lacking exposure to the world of art, they are unsure about artists, prices, which galleries to go to and the value of artworks. On the other hand, there are numerous collectors who keep succumbing to practically every new work of art. The excitement of collecting new and different works of art can even become addictive unconsciously.

There are some collectors who keep buying works from every new series of a particular artist for a variety of reasons. They either like that artist’s creations a lot, or because they know the artist personally they find it difficult to decline his latest works.
Then there are those who begin collecting in a small way, but in a few years time they get so involved and passionate about it that they find themselves unable to stop. This may happen even at the cost of their budgets going awry. With every new purchase they tend to stretch themselves, and slowly over a period of time this grows beyond control. Collecting art by well known names is a reflection of one’s status and there are many buyers who invest in them just for this purpose. Peer pressure can also be the driving factor in many cases. Then there are those collectors who are forever on the look out for newer artists and cutting edge works. They look for artists from a purely financial investment angle.

Therefore, while some may consider art as a frivolous expenditure, there are a large number of people who invest in art for various reasons. However, it is important to apportion a budget to art investment and remain within its limits. Just as you would invest a percentage of your disposable income on various conventional assets, follow the same rules when buying art, at least wherever applicable.

(Published in Financial Times)

Role of galleries in promoting upcoming artists

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

Most art galleries, now, are on the look out for young and upcoming artists for multiple reasons. One of the primary causes for this is that prices of senior and established artists are beyond the reach of the average buyer. But, on the other hand, most new artists complain about the difficulties they face in finding a foothold. It appears that there is a gap in the system where talented artists may not easily find promoters, and this is despite the fact that most galleries claim to be on the lookout for them.

In fact, most galleries and promoters who are serious about showcasing good art are extremely selective about who they pick. And, this works out well for both artists and buyers. It is important that galleries remain discerning as it ensures that only talented artists are promoted as emerging artists. But, unfortunately, while this may sound like a good principle to follow, it may not be always as straightforward. Often good marketing skills or efficient networking or other factors may play a role in who eventually gets promoted.

Still, it would be fair to say that the bigger galleries maintain a high level of standard in terms of their artists as it is crucial to their survival and their credibility. That is one of the reasons why buyers frequent galleries that have established credentials as the groundwork is somewhat over and a buyer can afford to take it comparatively easy in terms of choosing the artist. But, it would still be advisable that collectors and investors do their own research before investing in art. It is important to remember that at the end of the day an art gallery or promoter is likely to endorse their own artists. Therefore, to have a completely unbiased and balanced picture one should rely on independent sources.

(Published in Financial Times)

Art on wheels

(By Nalini S Malaviya)

A car completely covered with copper trimmings and intricate designs is not a common sight. But, this is exactly what you see when you arrive at Sara Arakkal’s gallery in Whitefield. The gleaming copper reflects the afternoon sunlight, highlighting the elaborate patterns that have been so painstakingly worked upon the body of the car. Artist Yusuf Arakkal’s brainchild; he has spent the last five years in conceptualising, designing and converting his old Fiat car into a work of art. There is an interesting story behind this car. Arakkal reveals, “I got this car – a 1956 Fiat Millicento in 1986 in exchange of a couple of paintings and a sculpture from art collector Harish Padmanabha. It so happened that Harish came over to collect the paintings and we decided to have a drink to celebrate the occasion. On the way we stopped at the car workshop and the moment I saw this champagne-grey coloured car I just fell in love with it. I asked Harish if he wanted to sell it and he agreed. We settled for it and I drove back home in this car.”

This was Arakkal’s first car in Bangalore and understandably, he has been very attached to it, and when it started to wear out, he was reluctant to part with it. Fortunately, the artist in him took over and he decided to convert it into a sculpture-cum-installation. As he wanted to retain the original classic shape of the car, he toyed with several ideas before deciding to use copper sheets to cover the car completely. Not an easy task as the final product had to be artistic as well as aesthetic.

According to Arakkal, almost a ton of copper has gone on the car in the process of altering it. A team of highly skilled craftsmen have worked on it for the last few years. A pattern inspired by wheels has been used on either side of the body of the car. Synonymous with the mobility of the vehicle and as a symbol of development and progress, the wheels are also inspired by a series of paintings Arakkal did in the 1970s. Special care has been taken to retain the patina of copper and several coats of sealant have been used to protect it from oxidation or weathering effects.

This converted vehicle - an artomobile is soon going to Delhi and will be showcased on the lawns of a new art gallery. Well, one thing is certain, this car is sure to catch your eye.

(Published in Bangalore Mirror)