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The art mart may be going through a low phase with the economic recession affecting the prices of canvases but Subodh Gupta is convinced that when it comes to contributing to a good cause, the money will come in.

Subodh Gupta brings together 30 artists to contribute towards relief work in Bihar and Orissa through an auction
RELIEF WORK: Above Gupta; Anju Dodiya8217;s work

The art mart may be going through a low phase with the economic recession affecting the prices of canvases but Subodh Gupta is convinced that when it comes to contributing to a good cause, the money will come in.

8220;The market conditions may not be the best but the needy can8217;t wait,8221; says the Delhi-based artist as he readies for the Saffronart Artists Flood Relief Auction, organised to collect funds for flood victims in Orissa and Bihar. While the initiative came from Gupta and wife Bharti Kher, chipping in for the online auction that will take place today and tomorrow are a total of 31 artists, each of whom has donated a canvas.

8220;No one has charged anything and there are no artist cuts. Every penny will be directed towards relief,8221; states Gupta, who has decided to direct the proceeds to two NGOs, Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendra and Goonj.

8220;I would have liked to visit the affected areas myself, but don8217;t think that will be as beneficial. I would rather contribute through art,8221; says Gupta.

He has been working towards the auction for a month and has managed to get together an impressive range of art which includes Atul Dodiya8217;s watercolour on paper titled Proust from the 8216;Pale Ancestors8217; series, Riyas Komu8217;s 2008 oil on canvas titled Uttara II and TV Santhosh8217;s untitled watercolour on paper.

While Ranbir Singh Kaleka8217;s oil on wood titled Man with Torch has an estimate price of Rs 30- 40 lakh, Bharti Kher8217;s bindis on board titled This Way and Never Another Way is estimated to fetch 45-65 lakh. The highest bid, however, is expected for Gupta8217;s untitled oil on canvas, which has an estimate price of Rs 90 lakh to 1.2 crore.

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While the artist is uncertain about the total proceeds that he will manage through the auction, Dinesh Vazirani, founder of Saffronart, is hopeful of collecting between Rs 3 to 4 crore for the NGOs. 8220;The cause should act as a driving factor. We are looking forward to bids from the world over,8221; he smiles. And the collectors get great art in return.