Canvas that doesn’t cost a fortune

Monica Arora 

CAN you imagine owning an original Arpita Singh, a Jogen Chowdhury or a Paramjit Singh or Ganesh Pyne creation at an affordable price? A piece of art that you’ve always dreamt of having, but couldn’t dare to even think of procuring because of its steep price… The CIMA Art Mela 2018, under the aegis of CIMA Art Gallery from Kolkata, brings affordable art for millennials to Delhi, from April 26-30 at the India Habitat Centre. 

Celebrating the silver jubilee of Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA) and the 10th anniversary of the Art Mela, the woman behind the show, Rakhi Sarkar is very positive about the response she hopes to elicit from art lovers in Delhi. “We are bringing the fair to Delhi for the first time. The idea is not to initiate a dialogue about post-modern art or figurative art among people. These are people who comprise the middle class and wish to own an original — it could be a young girl saving her first salary, someone saving on four-month pension to acquire his first Ganesh Pyne. 

We want to take art to the masses, the mainstream. The moneybags can anyway buy it from exhibitions at galleries, but we strive to bring the masters to the masses, the common people, who understand and value art.” Her energy is infectious as she describes how she got inspired from the Nandan Mela at Shanti Niketan, wherein accomplished artists create pieces to be bought by in-house residents. 

Before selecting a particular piece for Art Mela, Rakhi believes in “evaluating its grammar”. The concept and vision of the artist are of prime importance to her and she and fellow curators analyse the lines, structure, colours and quality of the art works, thus ensuring that buyers get the best of the best at reasonable rates. 

However, the Mela is not just about selling and buying art; it is replete with discussions and conversations around art. There is also an element of fun with masters sometimes creating playful pieces just for the event! Also, CIMA ensures that the pieces at the Mela do not upset the usual selling prices of the artists, who only offer some of their works for young collectors at low rates. 

Besides, the Mela also encourages newer and fresher artists to showcase their works. The proceeds from the sales go to Art and Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit institute initiated by CIMA, to promote and support artists as well as cultural projects. Plus, a biennale of CIMA Awards, held to promote upcoming artists, is another initiative of CIMA. Its winners are an integral part of the Mela. 

Just as art in the 19th century went from the domain of the royal patrons, emperors, maharajas and wealthy landlords to the secular middle class in the 20th century, CIMA Art Mela enables common people to own a piece of art that would be the talking point of drawing room conversation for years to come. This spring, a staggering 80 artists feature in this event.