A note-worthy move for art world

While everyone was busy trying to find liquor vends that were willing to accept the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes hidden from wives for their daily tipple and wives were frantically calling the friendly neighbourhood jeweller who was willing to accept notes of high denominations secretly stashed away from the husband for that kundan piece, my fellow artists were desperately calling their paint and canvas vendors to use the cash for hoarding paint and canvas! I for one laughed at all three for, actually, it was pathetic as it was comical.

This has to be one of the biggest Modi Mickeys let loose that threatens to either completely annihilate the art market for both visual and performing arts, or give it a great new lease of life. Artists are happy to accept cash, for even if it means paying tax and selling their stuff, it makes sense from both the perspective of the buyer and the seller. And for those who wanted to acquire a master, it is the best way to offload the money and get a big name as part of your collection, provided the seller is willing. Ditto for the performing arts — many dancers and musicians said they would be happy to pay tax and get programmes rather than not get programmes at all. So at least for this season, the arts can take a deep breath.

As it is, the visual art mart was still barely recovering from a huge slump, the natural fallout of a slow economy, and now this threatens to make sweeping changes as to how the luxury segment is perceived and money changes hands for the arts. I feel it makes a great option for those wanting to acquire paintings at reasonable rates. It makes perfect sense to buy lesser-known names in the hope they grow, or to anyway enjoy the works rather than look at your money turn to rubble. For the artists in the lower-price bracket, this may turn out to be the best possible opportunity towards sustenance in the short and long term from the point they are not selling to a point when even after paying tax they will be able to sell works.

This really is a far cry from a point when the only works selling were of the masters. Having masters was almost like holding currency that could be used anywhere in the world practically — now it will be a situation when this could become almost a norm. I know it for a fact that many feelers are being sent out to possible sellers for masters. For those sellers willing to pay tax, what better way to circulate the money

Even though it is early days yet and people are watching warily, the message is loud and clear for all those who have the sense to read the writing on the wall. About time too, with prices of art having gone through the roof many times over. I feel this will work as a corrective measure and in the long term will also be a sustainable module. For the young turks who were wanting to make a quick buck, today they stand at a point when none are willing to touch their works and they have out-priced themselves from the already reeling-under-a-slump market.

It was a strange phenomenon in the arts: the masters as well as the young turks’ prices had sky rocketed and middle-rung senior artists were keeping the prices sensible and reasonable to ensure long-term sustainability. Their practicality has paid off and it is they who will reap the benefits too.

While art can never hope to be as essential as food, it is soul food and just as important for a proud civilisation. Our ancestors understood it far better than us, for when they attached ritual significance to the arts, they also ensured its survival. The modern society, by excluding the arts from the purview of rituals, has robbed it of sustainability. By giving it tax sops, we at the civilisational level can ensure its long-term survival. Dr Alka Raghuvanshi is an art writer, curator and artist and can be contacted on alkaraghuvanshi@yahoo.com