The Trouble With The Indian Art Galleries

Let’s begin with, sorry again, because I have been real lazy to write anything in a while. Anyway here I am and to kick off with, I might go lashing against the Indian Art Galleries and on how they run. But before we begin, I just wanted to add that there are always exceptions.

MF Hussain works displayed at Delhi Art Gallery amid tight security

Over the years since I started practicing art full time, I have been following art galleries, organizations or cultural centers from around the globe and observing them. Well I guess that what we artists do these days when we don’t have much jobs around. I think, in a way this gives us a feeling that we are somehow connected to the art scene out there, when actually we are not. Anyway, during such observations I couldn’t help myself but notice the differences between how art galleries in other parts of the world (especially the west) runs and how it’s being run here in India. I will talk in three perspectives. I will not be taking names though.

One: Art is supposed to inspire, a way to creative thinking and adding beautiful colors to our lives and not just selling. Selling art is very important and that should always be a priority, but if you are selling only the artworks of famous artist, that’s where the problem is. In Indian art galleries, all you can see is the artworks of famous Indian and international artists. It sure is an amazing experience to see such artworks but what about those upcoming and struggling artists!!! “F**k Off” is what they are literally telling this group of hopeful artists.

In fact, it is very surprising to know the fact that most of the famous Indian artists today became a known name outside of India and then they come back to India and gets accepted within the Indian art scene. Don’t believe me??? Try asking the next established Indian artist you meet.

Anjolie Ela Menon's Work in Mumbai

Two: Art shouldn’t be for just some few elite groups of people, it should be for all. Unfortunately that’s not the case here. Art galleries here have their own mailing list to some few elite clienteles’ and that’s where all their invitations go. The rest of us have to personally walk-in to find out what’s going on. It’s not that these art galleries doesn’t have their websites or social media pages, it’s just that most of them never update any information there. And on social media, I think most of them never even came back the day after they sign up for it. I am not sure if they even remember their passwords.

It gets worst, for example if you wanted to know something and since you just can’t walk-in into their office without an appointment, so you email them. One year later, you still haven’t heard back from them yet. Keep waiting… If you are one lucky person, you might get a reply five/six weeks later and never hear from them again even if you reply back for more details. Rest assured they will never pick your call on the number listed on their website. It will keep ringing. And in case if it’s a government art gallery, don’t even try your luck. They are way out of your league.

Three: Every now and then, I keep seeing updates on Facebook Pages, Twitter etc. via art galleries about their weekend or monthly initiative that promotes and indulges creative thinking among kids or giving opportunity to emerging artists. For example: free weekend art classes for kids under 13 or monthly juried art competition for upcoming and emerging artist. You guess it right; none of them are from Indian art galleries.

No wonder, so many of these private art galleries here goes out of the picture after a few years or so. It’s a high time that the Indian Art Galleries should start realizing the fact that these little activities however small and sound unimportant are actually the driving force behind art and creativity. It attracts people and engagement. You run out of it, you also run out.

Last Words: Of course there are always exceptions but long story short, “You are F**ked” if you are an emerging artist out here.