Indian artists are able to make at least two international trips to Europe, the Gulf and even some exotic locations annually, thanks to a new kind of patronage. Collectors, individual buyers or clients, organisations and even galleries are packing off artists with business class flights and first class stay.
While their patronship is beneficial for the artists who crave to experience new cultures and spaces, the sponsors also stand to benefit with the artists giving back a couple of canvases that go into their personal collections or gallery stocks.
Senior artist Surya Prakash credits his latest series on Venice to the man who sponsored his Italy trip Gaurang Jalan.
Businessman and art aficionado Jalan, who runs a film firm, runs these activities under Jagruti Art Initiative. “Italy was largely a tour of the museums to help the group of artists get acquainted with the rich Venetian art,” says Jalan.
Besides Surya Prakash, another local artist who has often travelled with Jalan is Laxma Goud. “We make sure that the group is a representation of India through its masters.
When we went to Egypt, we had eight masters as the purpose was largely a rendezvous with 14 artists from Egypt. Another trip was to Bahrain, which had the local home ministry onboard the camp for us,” he adds.
But keep in mind, Jagruti is not a non-profit. Jalan also has an online gallery, which benefits from these events. “While we do get a few canvases for the gallery in return for the money we put into these tours, the recovery of the funds we put into the tours do not happen immediately. It takes years to recover,” admits Jalan.
MONEY MATTERS
To keep the costs minimal, the sponsors or patrons often book ahead and go for group tour packages in the off-season. While Europe is the most-desired location among other countries that are frequently visited include Japan, Hong Kong, Bali and Morocco. The Gulf again is an economical option.
Ramesh Gorjala, who has been to Japan and Prague on similar trips, says, “They usually expect a few canvases in return. If you do the math, going to these countries individually may cost less. But then, it would become hard to touch base with the artists there; and to travel with senior artists from India is also something I really look forward to.”
Patrons Vs. Sponsors
While most of these tours are backed with the sponsors’ intention of adding to the collection or the stock, there are still a few patrons of art. Tripat Kalra of Gallerie Navya in Mumbai, who travelled with a group of seniors to South Africa that included our own Thota Vaikuntam, says the intention was to spend time with the artists. “The art camp at South Africa was held with a pure intention to spend time with the artists and to understand their creative process,” she says. Kalra collected art for close to 40 years and incidentally became a gallery owner. As to the give and take, she admits, “Well that depends on the kind of arrangement you have with the artists. The South Africa camp resulted in a show at Lalit Kala Academy.”
Meet the Critics
While these tours are dubbed “art camps”, some do not approve. Critics say no work is done during these “trips”. Senior artist Fawad Tamkanat, who although has been to a few of these trips during his early days, now sternly refuses these offers. “I have been to Europe 10 times for art shows residencies, art camps, museum residencies and worked with European artists. I refuse to go to holiday art camp without art... No fun going to romantic places with most un-romantic people. These so-called five-day art camps are purely commercial,” he says.
Parashuram, a documentary filmmaker and a passionate art connoisseur, who had held a camp on a cruise ship in 2009 with 40 national artists, says “We wanted to see what would come out on the subject of the sea. The idea is to bring them to a platform and put them in a comfort zone. We do expect them to produce works, but that may not be possible over a couple of days, so they generally take the works back to their studios,” he explains.
