It146;s P-arty Time, Folks

Which is all fine, but when exactly does the selling and buying of art take place? Artist Laxman Shreshtha, whose first solo show after nine years opened at the Jehangir Art Gallery on January 7, believes there is nothing wrong in gala art openings as they are really a celebration and not the day one sees the works. Artists come as friends and supporters. 8216;8216;Those who are serious will come again,8217;8217; says Shreshtha. 8216;8216;It8217;s terrific and beautiful, so much like the parks in France and London where art is put up in a public space and people mill around with their champagne and beer,8217;8217; he adds.

This view, that the opening day is a day for socialising and celebrations and that selling can get done on a later date, seems to be a common one amongst the more established names, like Padamsee and Jitish Kallat too. 8216;8216;The artist spends time isolated at work in the studio. The opening serves as a platform to celebrate and share. If I really like an artist8217;s work I will come back,8217;8217; says Kallat.

Established galleries like the Jehangir Art Gallery, Pundole, Chemould, Sakshi and Guild to name a few, have a faithful clientele and often, they do return the next day. But there are many galleries who have to cut their deals on the spot to ensure survival. And in a city like Mumbai, which is so far flung, anxious gallery owners and artists can only pray that clients make their purchases on the opening night. Explains artist Sharmila Samant, 8216;8216;In Mumbai, what are the chances of someone coming again all the way from say Vashi just to see the works?8217;8217;

Many artists believe the entire concept of extravagant opening nights itself is redundant. Samant points out that serious collectors do tend to snap up works. 8216;8216;In that respect I find splashy openings a waste. I would much rather have a quiet opening where the artist is available to speak to viewers and collectors,8217;8217; she says.

However, many collectors look for works 8216;8216;with their ears and not their eyes,8217;8217; as Padamsee puts it. 8216;8216;So if they have heard the name, the chances are they will make an investment,8217;8217; he says. In that respect, the opening appears to be a redundant practice if it is arranged with the intention of allowing collectors to view works of art. However, art aficionado Aditya Ruia points out that for younger collectors, an exhibition opening is ideal ground to network and learn about trends in the art-mart.

Even book launches have their place at art openings explains Ruia. 8216;8216;It encourages people to look at literature on art,8217;8217; he says. With artists like M F Husain, Krishen Khanna and now Krishna Reddy getting their books launched at their opening, it definitely seems to be a growing trend. In fact, collectors feel books will help the process of art trade. 8216;8216;With Husain, it is handy to have a book that documents his work,8217;8217; says Ruia. 8216;8216;He is not always available for authentication and even if it is a book of the coffee-table variety, it provides a good point of reference for a new collector to get familiarised with the work.8217;8217;

As for the biggies like famous art collectors and film stars, there is no dispute they are important to the art market, as artist Bose Krishnamachari puts it. But for the smaller artists, who cannot afford to host them at extravagant champagne-swilling opening bashes, such galas are irrelevant. For the moment though, that dash of gossip and splash of wine seem to be the prerogative of a select section in the art world, for whom the intimate viewing of works by patrons and artists will have to happen on another day.