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From boardrooms to galleries

Corporate houses are turning into patrons of art in the State. Many private bodies other than the Akademi are holding art shows, says Priyadarsshini Sharma

ART ENTERPRISE The cgh earth exhibition at Durbar Hall Art Gallery showcases a varied body of works done by Kerala artists Photo: VIPINCHANDRAN

Take a look at the city's art calendar. Exhibitions, solo and group shows, art camps dot it at aesthetic regularity, round the year. A trend that's been growing over the past four years has finally taken form and shape in an `artscape' that compliments the artists and the art aficionados, however small this body may be.

The latest to enter the frame is corporate house, cgh earth that has packaged Kerala in a new brand, almost redefining it.

With their art show on at Durbar Hall Art Gallery, till March 10, showcasing 134 works of Kerala artists, collected from the four art camps held on their properties last year, the canvas has grown bigger and bolder. Bigness being measured by the number of art galleries mushrooming in the city and State, by the number of art works created and exhibited, by the number of people visiting the galleries and the biggest stroke being the advent of corporate interest in art.

New dimension

The patronage of a corporate house adds a new dimension and direction to the hitherto tenuous art picture, in the State.

Says Anoop Scaria, Director, Kashi Art Gallery, "Patronage is always needed in art. Any modern city should support art. One per cent of the whole budget of a city should be spent on public art. It is the duty of corporate houses, big banks and the city itself, to invest in public art.

Jose Dominic, Managing Director, cgh earth who has skilfully combined hospitality with art, says," Our association with art is part of our brand building. A part of fulfilment of the core values of our group, those of engaging and benefiting the community." And for him the best interpreters of the aspirations of a community are the artists. So art in the State finds a new spokesperson, in corporate biggies.

Early days

Says Jacob M. Kuruvinakunnel, art collector and who participated in the first Sotheby's auction in India, "Way back in the seventies, the Casino group, and now cgh earth, held an art show, Kala Yatra, organised by Sara Abraham. The works on show were Husain, Laxman Goud, Sultan Ali and many other known names. But art exhibitions then were rare. The Taj group, of course has one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the country. But corporate patronage in local art augurs well for the artists."

Recalling the art scene of the late seventies and early eighties, says Mr. Dominic, "We actually ran a gallery for a year at Casino hotel, but it was much ahead of its time. Husain, Anjolie Ela Menon and other big names were for a steal, at the show. Now we are back in art."

With the eight cgh earth properties providing well lit, gallery space for display and a studio , as planned, art is on a roll. The art camps run by the group have proved to be virtual art laboratories. "The rationale behind these camps was to unleash the extraordinary potential of the local, young and women artists. This exhibition will serve to market the works of the artists. This will definitely raise the bar. We are also inaugurating an online exhibition." Prof Ajayakumar, Principal, Fine Arts College, Thiruvanathpuram says, "Earlier there were art camps only by the Akademi. Now there is an alternative. The Akademi has its own limitations."

Art promoter, Dilip Narayanan, who has conducted five wide-ranging art shows, Open Eyed Dreams, in the State, is excited at this new development. "In out first show Aspinwall had sponsored us. This trend is a very healthy and encouraging sign. If a company diversifies into art the public too will put their money in it. Art is risk free investment." Interpreting this differently, says Paul George of Bobsun Art Gallery, "For the Corporate world it can be a new threshold. It will force you to slow down and appreciate the finer things in life." But how much art actually sells off the walls at the art exhibitions, from the galleries or online is the question.

Says Mr. Scaria, "I sell art all over the world. I sell online. It is about trusting a gallery." Says Radhika Batra, who assists Spandan Art Gallery, Kolkata and has held art auctions with wine and cheese evenings at Hotel Taj Malabar and Trident, in the city, "I find art sells better at shows where you invite art connoisseurs. Of course the show is opened to the public thereafter." Her art show for charity, exhibiting Bengali artists, Art for Giving, was a total sell-out.

And so as the Kochi art scene gets the finishing touches, from corporate houses to make it almost picture perfect, rues Mr. Scaria wryly, "I wish people in Kerala would buy more art than gold." Well, nevertheless, with this new trend there is a definite gold lining to the artscape in the State.

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