An interview with artists Aude Rech and Lynne Godina It is that time of the year again when we can let ourselves look forward to the coming year and hope for a new beginning, despite the past year being so outlandish. RtistiQ wishes you happy holidays. The art market trends are constantly in flux with the current pandemic. As businesses try to return to normalcy after a tough year, demand for art is bound to increase, though the reason could also be the fact that people have become hopeful with the arrival of vaccines in the market. As more art lovers look to buy art online, RtistiQ interviewed two of the prominent artists featured on our website to ask them what they would do to increase sales during the holiday season. Introduction to the Artists: Aude Rech was born in an artistic family with an art gallery owner mother and a well-known ceramist father. She believes she is lucky to have art in her genes. She studied at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Nice and at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris where her teachers and mentors were Debré, Alechinsky and Cueco. Aude has been working as a virtual artist for the past 40 years, and she currently works from a studio in the south of France. She has been exhibiting her work in Paris, Berlin, San Francisco and New York and her work is featured in a few private collections. Aude believes her art is a personal journey in terra incognita, full of surprises and discoveries. In her words – “I feel like a director casting a play that I rewrite every day. Art is the only thing that elevates me, giving me the feeling of being positively alive. I depict the world, my world, the forces at play in most live forms. For me it is all a question of energy balance and colors!” Lynne Godina Maybe a new er name in the art scene, but within 2 years, she has had her first solo exhibition and has been a part of three group exhibitions. Her solo exhibition featured over 60 original pieces and she also has to her credit, 50 pieces in private and corporate collections around Australia. Lynne got a breakthrough in international art sale when she sold her art to a private collection in Milan, Italy late 2019. Lynne likes to use a lot of texture and heavy collection of paints in her paintings. She primarily uses stretched canvas, although she has also dabbled in glass framed works. Additionally, she has started using hardboard bases. See below the interview with our featured artists Aude and Lynne. Interview: Read on to find the detailed responses of Aude and Lynne for our questions surrounding their art styles, their motivation, their career paths, challenges and their experience with our platform. You will also find some motivation and some good advice in their responses. Q - How has the art market scenario changed over the past decade? Aude – Over the past decade, the art market has evolved strongly due to the implementation of numerous online platforms dedicated to sell and promote art.Social media have been playing a major role in the exchange of information regarding all matters related to art. Networking, promoting, selling, exhibiting has been so mucheasier than it used to be. Having a worldwide vision of the art world in real-time is now possible. Lynne - The online gallery presence has surged in the past decade. Globally there are hundreds of online sites and platforms to promote your art. Some are better and more professional than others and have been around for a longer time, others are smaller boutique galleries that focus on a closer relationship with the individual artist. There is something for every level of artist to be able to display and promote their art. As you get a higher profile, galleries will come to you, but at the start being part of just one gallery can be very exciting and proactive in getting your works out there. Obviously Covid-19 has had a huge impact on exhibitions and bricks and mortar galleries. Depending on where in the world you live, lockdowns and restrictions vary. Here in Australia we are now very lucky to be able to go out and have large groups again and the galleries and venues are reopening, so I am looking forward to exhibiting and having people come to visit my studio/gallery again in 2021. Q - What are some of the challenges that you faced in your art career? How did you overcome them? Aude - One of the biggest challenges that I have faced in my art career is to be in touch with my personal creativity and to be aware at the same time of my surroundings in time and space, keeping in perspective of where we stand in the history of Art. To create is to give someone the ability to see a piece of the world through someone else’s mind at a certain time and place. You are becoming a witness to our society. In order to feel connected, you need to be able to feel the energy that surrounds you and to harvest it. This is a challenge, practicing self-awareness helps achieve this state of mind. Lynne – The major challenge is to get your art seen. That takes a lot of hours and persistence, it is a fulltime job. I have always said the painting and creating the art is the easy part, it’s the backend that takes time and commitment. I am not very good with social media, but I have to push myself to be consistent with uploading and continually showing what is happening with my art, sales, commissioned works and within my studio. Q - How do you think technology has helped to boost art sales? Aude – In my own experience and especially during this Covid period I have been able to use a virtual environment to showcase my work therefore I have generated some sales. At the moment the use of technology helps me to identify potential art galleries, curators, or art collectors with whom I can start conversations with no time or space barrier. It is quite incredible to be able to reach art connoisseurs worldwide in that manner. Lynne – Everything has gotten faster and sleeker in the last decade. Computers are now so much quicker and more reliable to upload and be part of the web to search and keep in contact with the world. When I first started uploading my art I bought a very expensive Nikon camera with all the best lenses to capture professional shots, now I use my iphone. The cameras within the phones have just been getting better and better with each new version and it is so simple to edit and then connect to the computer and upload. Q - Which feature of RtistiQ do you find the most interesting? And why? Aude – The RtistiQ features I enjoy the most are the blockchain certification, the digital certificate, secure transaction, and shipment methods. The reason why I do enjoy those features is that they gave the potential collector a sense of being secure and it shows a very professional environment. As an artist to know that I can trace my art after it being sold is amazing. It offers many new possibilities, keeping track of its sales record, its location, and ownership. Having these pieces of information can help an artist generating broader interest in his work. As well I came to enjoy the sense of community and the ease of building an online portfolio. I can not wait for the platform to shape up with more artists and to see what we could organize together. Lynne – Since joining the RtistiQ website I have enjoyed finding so many interesting artists from every corner of the world. To be able to go into their galleries and see the amazing quality and diversity of art is something that gives me great pleasure and boundless inspiration. Q - How is RtistiQ different from other sites that you have used? Aude - I have had a better experience with RtistiQ, I found it more engaging I like its design and its simplicity and professionalism. Lynne – Because RtistiQ is a fledgling gallery the one on one interaction with me as an artist is refreshing and new. I feel that the team are really interested and willing to promote my art and find out what and who I am as an artist. Q - What are the prospects the holiday season brings in for art sales? Aude – It is difficult to say, but more potential buyers are going to browse the net in the research of a unique gift. The seasonal aspect is interesting and can generate great opportunities to have someone discover your work, start collecting or simply to enjoy offering a very original, interesting, meaningful gift. Lynne – Traditionally the lead up to Christmas is fairly slow as people are more concerned with celebrations with their families, friends and work colleagues. Money is being spent on gifts, but a piece of art is a very personal purchase and normally people wouldn’t look at making a large decision like that as a surprise. Things get busy in the New Year when people have been given money to ‘buy themselves something they want’ and think about that artwork or sculpture they have been eyeing all year. Q - Could you give an insight into the marketing strategies you use during this season? Aude – I will not use a specific marketing strategy during the holiday season, but I will definitely communicate more and will bring people to the site so that they can discover my newest work and enjoy the RtistiQ key features. Lynne – I have a sale on my website for the first two weeks to see in the New Year. Also, I offer a gift certificate on my site to give to loved ones to prompt them to buy a piece from my gallery. I make sure to keep painting and upload as many new artworks as I can to keep a high presence on all the sites. Q -Your advice to budding artists to promote their artwork this gifting season. Aude - As an artist, I would advise anyone to help potential collectors, either by having a set of work that is financially accessible to be offered as a gift or being an incentive to start maybe a new relationship with collecting a new artist. Lynne - The main thing is to upload, upload, upload. To the online galleries and platforms, you are on, to your own websites if you have them and of course, as much content on social media as you can physically do every day. My aim is to upload at least twice a day, even if it’s giving earlier pieces another upload to refresh people's memory and get them looking at the newer creations. ******** Aude and Lynne are impressed with RtistIQ’s way of working and the diverse art collection. If you are an art enthusiast, browse through our online art gallery to find something you like. Explore all arts for sale which are perfect as a gift for yourself or your loved ones to mark the beginning of a better year. If you are an artist, contact us to showcase your art on our website and use our unique features to reach a larger audience. RtistiQ wishes you all A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! Author: Manisha Bhati

RtistiQ

24 Dec 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

Guidelines For Amateur Art Collectors Art collection in these modern times is no longer the prerogative of the super-rich and not limited to the niche territory it was once confined to. The recent decade has seen a lot of amateurs especially the well-educated, well-heeled younger crowd, showing an active interest in art collections. The advent of technology which has helped create a digital world has played a pivotal role in making art accessible to larger section of people across the globe. This technological advancement coupled with the availability of information, guides and articles on this subject has led to an unprecedented rise in amateur art collectors. Having said that, art collection especially for an amateur can often be an overwhelming as well as a daunting experience. But with a few guidelines in mind to help tackle the process, anyone with an appreciation for art and a genuine passion for the process can be an art collector, whether they are part of a Sotheby auction process, rummaging through a garage sale or even browsing online. Be Cognizant Of Your Preferences Art collection is not something which can happen overnight. It takes time and effort. The first step would be to understand the kind of art that excites you and stirs your soul and in a way, speaks to you. This is a very personal space and requires you to invest time to explore various kinds and medium, till you find the perfect fit. It is also important to keep in mind that preferences are susceptible to change over time and can range over multiple styles and medium. What is important is to keep an open mind and observe the sort of work that evokes emotions within yourself. Invest Time And Energy For Research This is one of the most important steps which many amateurs do not give the importance it deserves. Proper research helps you take informed decisions and makes the entire process more enjoyable and stress free. So, what can you research about? You can read up and gather information about your preferred art medium, the iconic artists associated with it, the terminology used, current trends in the market etc. Give yourself time to experience art. This could be by visiting galleries, browsing bookstores, local art markets or whatever sparks your interest. Be aware of what kindles emotions or sparks interest and what kind of details pull you in further. This material can be used as your reference point. Once you have a fair idea of what you are looking for then it becomes easier to zero in on where to locate it. In recent times, any medium from estate sales to Facebook is a potential location. Plan And Create A Suitable Budget It is imperative to get your priorities right. Do you want to decorate your space or build a collection? This will help you decide how many pieces and what type to purchase, based on the disposable income you have set aside. Signing up for relevant newsletters from reputed art websites is a good idea to help compare prices and stay up to date on the latest art works in the market. Online galleries can also be a good place to invest your time on as they curate and introduce a plethora of talented artists. It is also advisable to try and contact the artist directly or sign up for a service that helps connect with the artists directly, once you have found an artwork that appeals to you. In many cases the original piece of artwork may be more affordable that we give it credit for. Quality Assurance With the range and volume of artwork that are available for an amateur collector today, determining the quality of the artwork is of utmost importance. Paintings, especially in the abstract art category can often be confusing to a beginner. It is said that every piece of art will have an intention behind it, it will have something to say. An artwork of quality even if it is abstract will have a story to convey. It will rarely be, a random composition. It is most likely to be inspired by real life and will translate that in terms of abstract symbols. It can also be a translation of the artist’s moods and emotions, rather than a depiction of just objects. So the only way to become better at identifying paintings of quality whatever be the medium, is to look and study as many paintings as possible in that particular category as well as try and understand the history and significance of that particular piece of work. Delve into the provenance of the piece as well as the time in the artist’s career that this piece was made. This will help decide on the fairness of the pricing. Investing in professionals such as consultants and curators is also a good way to assure the quality of the painting, provided you have the resources. Listen To Your Heart And March To Your Own Beat Finally, it is especially important to ensure that the piece of art you have invested in makes you happy, unless you are collecting for commercial reasons. It should be a reflection of yourself and your personality and something which you see yourself being comfortable with. Often the return on investment is usually your happiness.

RtistiQ

11 Dec 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

Protect Your Art Collection Like An Expert You are an art connoisseur, and you love your collection. After all, art is precious and sometimes passed on from generation to generation. But the artwork is also susceptible to damage, the most common being breakages, tears, smudges, fingerprints, stains from food or smoke, poor storage, intense sunlight, humidity etc. The good news is that it is easy to protect your artwork from this damage. Below are some tips you could use to protect and safely store your precious collection. Handle Your Painting With Care First things first - handling a painting carefully is an essential part of maintaining the novelty of your painting. You should handle only one painting at a time, despite size or weight. Do not touch a painting with oily or dirty fingers. Try not to touch the painted part of the canvas; hold it from the sides or corner as much as possible. You could minimize contact by wearing cotton gloves. And remember to remove any accessories like watches or jewelry before you handle a painting. Hanging Your Artwork Secondly, you need to take care in hanging the artwork. Use appropriate size wall hooks, and it is better if these are driven into wall studs. If the artwork is heavy or oversized, it is best to use a wall anchor. To provide additional support, you could mount a bracket under the painting to support its weight. You should ensure that no loose end of a hanging wire or screw pokes into the canvas from behind, as this could cause a bulg,e or worse, hole in the painting over time. Always remember to periodically check any mechanical items used to hang a painting, including screws, hooks, cords, or wires. This way, you would be able to spot a potential fall event before it happens and can prevent any damage to your painting. The Right Spot To Hang Your Artwork Third, selecting a proper spot to hang an artwork is essential. An artwork created with any paint is susceptible to long exposures to direct sunlight. Some types of colours may fade slower than others, but most colors fade in sunlight. Hence, do not put paintings where direct sunlight falls on them. If you cannot find such a place, then it's recommended to frame it behind UV-protected glass. A painting can be protected against dirt and grime damage by varnishing it. It is advisable not to hang a painting on top of a heat source since the hot air will carry all dirt and grime with it upwards, which may deposit on your painting. Heat can also soften the paint, thus making it easier for more soot to deposit on the painting and causing irreparable damage. Varnish may also protect from UV rays and smoke. It would be best if you used removable varnish to keep the painting as a family heirloom. This can be removed when the painting yellows, thus returning its original glory. The artwork can be re-varnished to provide protection again. Water is another danger to the life of your painting. It can cause paint loss by loosening the adhesion of the paints. Hence, protect your painting from water or other liquids. Also, a painting needs balanced and consistent humidity to retain its freshness. Low humidity makes the paint brittle and may cause mechanical damage, while high humidity can promote mold growth. And frequent fluctuations in relative humidity are bad for wooden panel paintings. The wood can change its shape and become concave with changes in humidity and heat. Trying to flatten the wood may cause the paint to flake off. Keeping Your Paintings Dust Free Now, let's look at how to clean a painting safely. If the painting is not damaged, you can dust it using a clean, dry, soft, natural-hair artist's brush. However, it should be avoided for a painting with a matte surface. While dusting a painting, ensure it is vertical so the dust falls away from the surface of the painting. Also, never use dry or moist dust cloths, stiff bristle brushes, or dust feathers to dust a painting. The Right Way To Store Your Art Lastly, sometimes you may need to store your art for various reasons. The best way to store art is to wrap it in brown paper, then wrap it in bubble wrap, place frame corners on all corners, then place the wrapped-up artwork in a solid box. The box size should be appropriate, so the painting does not move while transferring. For unframed works on paper, use plastic sleeves with acid-free cardboard to make sure the paper doesn't bend with time. Some of the rules for hanging a painting also apply to storage. For example, do not store in a hot, humid, dirty place, meaning avoid storage in basements or attics. Also, regularly open and check the artwork if you need to store it for longer. If you have any doubts, you could seek professional support through art conservators.

RtistiQ

04 Dec 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

What is art forgery and why is it wrong? One of the main reasons why high-end art, especially by the masters, is revered is because of its originality, that undefinable touch, which is so unique to that artist and which sets it apart from the rest. The concept of imitation of art has been going on for hundreds of years, where an artist or student copies the artwork of a master they admire. There is nothing wrong or illegal in this. Art forgeries however are a different ball game altogether. In this, the artist or institution tries to pass off their artwork under the name of an established or famous artist, usually for financial gains. A forged Picasso painting can look as aesthetically pleasing and refined as the original one, sometimes even to a trained eye. Then why is authenticity so important in the art world? The primary reason why it is crucial to distinguish between an original and counterfeit piece is due to the monetary value attached to the piece. Each piece of art would be inspired from a unique creative source and it then passes through the personal cognitive skills of the artist before it is translated onto the medium. This gives the artist an intellectual property right over his piece of work. To study a false piece of art as an original work by a revered artist, would at the very least, taint our understanding of the artist as well as the evolution of that piece of work. The financial and moral implications of this duplicity have the power to disrupt the very fibre of the art world. Notable Art forgeries that rocked the Art world Art forgery is every art collector’s or art institution’s worst nightmare. Yet, despite the best efforts by experts and security personnel, widespread fabrication of artworks continues to be a looming menace. Some notable instances of art forgery in recent times, exploring the techniques employed, the consequences faced, and the lessons learned The Wolfgang Beltracchi Scandal: One of our time's most notorious art forgers, Wolfgang Beltracchi, stunned the art world with his impeccable reproductions of famous artworks. From Van Gogh to Picasso, Beltracchi masterfully replicated renowned artists' styles, materials, and signatures. It was only in 2010 that his deception was uncovered, leading to his arrest and a significant blow to the art market. The case shed light on the vulnerabilities of authentication processes and the allure of owning a "lost masterpiece." The Knoedler Gallery Case: The Knoedler Gallery, a prestigious art institution in New York, fell victim to one of the largest forgery scandals in recent history. Over 15 years, the gallery unknowingly sold dozens of fake paintings by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning. The elaborate scheme involved a art dealer from Long Island named Glafira Rosales got the help of a Chinese artist based in queens to paint abstract expressionist style paintings, in the style of famous masters . She managed to pass them off to the reputed Knoedler gallery, as part of the unlisted works of the artists, which they had sold directly to an anonymous buyer. This resulted in collectors spending around eighty million dollars on these forged pieces. This case highlighted the challenges galleries and experts face in verifying the authenticity of artworks. Zhang Daqian's Fake Scroll Paintings: Zhang Daqian, a highly esteemed Chinese painter, became a victim of forgery even after his passing. Forgers capitalized on his distinctive style and subjects, creating convincing imitations of his scroll paintings. Before experts detected the fraud, these counterfeit works entered prestigious auctions and private collections. This incident emphasized the importance of extensive research, provenance verification, and scientific analysis to prevent the circulation of fake artwork. The Modigliani Forgery Ring: A group of skilled forgers in Italy produced a series of remarkable fake Amedeo Modigliani paintings, successfully infiltrating the art market. Their sophisticated techniques and attention to detail fooled collectors, experts, and auction houses. The operation was eventually dismantled, leading to arrests and confiscation of numerous counterfeit works. The Modigliani forgery ring revealed the lengths to which forgers will go to imitate the unique styles of celebrated artists. The Fake Frans Hals Portrait case: One of the biggest scandals to rock the art world in recent times, was the ten million dollar Frans Hal portrait sold through a private sale in which modern day materials was found to be used, when tested by Orion Analytical, a US based company which investigates art work. Sotheby’s refunded the buyer after this unfathomable forgery came to light. This forgery circle is rumoured to involve works of up to 25 old masters, escalating the amount collectors are said to have spent on these fake pieces, to an outrageous 255 million US dollars. The most surprising facet in this whole issue was that most of the reputed art institutions accepted these paintings as genuine masterpieces and even displayed these pieces in their galleries. The total lack of provenance for most of these paintings was a red flag in this multi-million dollar scandal. This casts a shadow on the effectiveness of age-old techniques like connoisseurship, which uses less of scientific methods and relies on intangible elements, like the ability of the expert to detect the ‘hand of the artist’ in the painting. In this case the technical analysis done by Orion Analytical, helped bring the forged pieces to light. Other Major forgery cases In another startling case, The Uzbek state museum discovered that many of its original art pieces was replaced by forged pieces by their own staff. They had sold the original pieces in the black market for a fraction of the cost. The State Art and cultural museum in Ankara, Turkey was also a victim to forgery when almost 302 of the original works were planned to be swapped by its staff in association with some art criminals. The case came to light when the museum discovered that many pieces in its collection were copies. The forgery case was solved with the help of a tip by an anonymous caller. In an equally sensational scam, dubbed operation Voyeurs, the Spanish authorities busted an operation selling counterfeit works by world renowned artists including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. A Zaragoza based art dealer, was planning to sell these for millions of Euros. How Technology Can Prove An Effective Weapon Against Art Forgery Art forgeries continue to challenge the authenticity and integrity of the art world. Recent cases of forgery remind us of the intricate techniques employed by skilled forgers, the vulnerabilities within authentication processes, and the enduring allure of owning a genuine masterpiece. These incidents have prompted art institutions, experts, and collectors to strengthen their efforts in research, provenance verification, and technological advancements for the detection and prevention of art fraud. With modern technological breakthroughs, many online art platforms and institutions can now be prepared to protect themselves and their investors from such hoodwinkers. Digital art is now a formidable name in the art world, with both collectors and reputed online platforms waking up to its value in the modern art market. The universal concern when dealing with such art is the plagiarism concerns which arises, when a copy of it exists on the internet. To solve this issue, many high-end online art platforms like Rtistiq, employ blockchain technology in their art asset management. Using this technology, once the provenance and ownership details of a particular artwork have been uploaded onto the company’s secure and distributed database, it can be tracked and verified online and in real time. Thus, every single event that has occurred in the lifetime of the artwork now becomes a digital block, which is linked to a previous block of information. This enables prospective clients to confirm the authenticity and provenance of the piece of artwork. Rtistiq, a digital online platform for art connoisseurs, and investors is one such enterprise which employs technological prowess to ensure that their clients have a secure space to conduct their dealings. Using blockchain technology it records every piece of information connected to a piece of artwork and the digital fingerprint thus created would be impossible to duplicate. The unique architecture of this technology ensures immutability so that data once fed cannot be altered while allowing the users to maintain anonymity. NFC tags are another highly effective way to counter forgery. In this method NFC tags or microchips, like the ones used in passports or credit cards are attached to the piece of artwork. The chip, which is invisible to the naked eye, holds a private key with a corresponding public key stored on a blockchain. This forms a sort of digital link, connecting the artwork and the information about it. It is stored on a secured network and is virtually tamper proof and nearly impossible to replicate. This data can be accessed by a potential client at any time by scanning the chip with the help of relevant apps. Using these tags, the artists can authenticate their latest piece of work by attaching them to the art work or an art gallery can use this to authenticate the provenance of an old renowned piece of work and also provide their customers with a bona fide certificate. Art forgeries other than having a severe monetary impact, can have a profound effect on the art market. It can damage the hard-earned reputation of many people involved in the process. So, effective methods to identify and prevent forgeries is the need of the hour. With new technological advancements, more and more fool proof methods are being introduced. The stakeholders in the art world must embrace these new techniques to stay one step ahead of these forging masterminds and safeguard their assets in this ever evolving and volatile art industry. Author: Anupama

RtistiQ

27 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

The Art challenges the technology and the technology inspires the Art - John Lasseter Beyond inspiration, Technology has now moved into augmenting Art and bringing people together to cherish creativity to its truest potential. At RtistIQ we aspire to bring forward the best in class technology to the Creative Community, furthering its outreach while also helping to address some of the known challenges of the Industry. Technology today has been transforming every Industry known to humans, making it faster, better and with best of convenience. Digital Transformation has been the key driving focus for majority of industries to provide best of tools and services to the consumers at an affordable price. Internet, Mobile and Smartphones has penetrated every household in recent time, bringing together both an opportunity as well as challenges. The opportunity lies in reaching to the farthest of places and people, which wouldn't have been possible at any level of physical interaction; while bringing the challenge of being able to stand-out, provide credibility and protection from fraudulent transactions. Technology Behind RtistiQ At RtistIQ, we have brought together a combination of latest technology and artistry to give power to the creative community to expand their outreach with convenience, security and specialization. Some of the key technology put in place are as below Blockchain & NFC Powered At its core we have combined the powers of Digital Imagery, Blockchain and NFC to create a digital DNA of every artwork linking back to the original creator, offering proof of ownership, provenance history and security from forgeries. We employ advanced image scanning and robust hashing techniques to create a digital finger-print, which along with other unique information of the art as well as its transaction are stored securely into the blockchain. A tamper proof IOT device attached to the artwork provide additional security and authenticity to the physical work, which is further linked back to the platform for validation. Artificial Intelligence We harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to offer better security to the art works as well as facilitate better Art Discovery and predictability for the users based on their interests and choices. No two humans are same and so is the perception of artwork. With AI we are able to offer individuality of choices and personalize user experiences. Together with conversational AI and chatbots, helps users to interact with the platform to assist the usage and search of artworks of interest without waiting for support staffs. AI enabling is not part of the current Beta release, and is currently on learning mode to be made available in the main release. Augmented Reality And 3D Projections One of the common challenges of digital mediums in comparison to physical stores / exhibitions, has been the ability to interact with the product / artwork. This is to an extent getting eliminated through the use of AR technology, which enables users to have an in-store like experience and also see the fitment of the artwork in their living rooms. The ability to visualize a virtual representation of products in 3D, to scale and in their intended environment, enables shoppers to make better judgments, removing the need to measure and verify dimensions. Once they have made their determinations, they can buy the artwork online and have it shipped right to their door-steps with few clicks. RtistIQ further employs digital technology, social-media aggregation and other automation tools to make the marketplace engaging and convenient for both the creator and Art lovers. We strongly believe, through the application of digital channels and advanced technologies is going to change the way we look, perceive and interact with artworks for the betterment of the community in large. We strive to bring the best and most advanced technologies in its easiest forms for the Art Community to benefit from. We hope as users you would enjoy interacting with the platform as much we did to bring the platform out to you... Author: RTISTIQ Team

RtistiQ

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

Who Are Millennials? The term millennial describes a section of people born between 1981 and 1996. The term millennial came to be used because the oldest members of this generation turned adults at the turn of the third millennium AD. They are also referred to as Gen Y, as they are the set of people who succeed Gen X. One of the most defining characteristics of this generation is the ease of access and usage of digital devices, the internet, and social media. They are also likely to be better educated than the previous generation. Millennials have also managed to bring about a massive shift in how art markets worldwide operate. With their new set of attitudes, preferences, and modes of operation, these young, influential collectors have transformed how art is perceived and consumed. Here, we explore how millennials view art and culture and how that paved the way for dramatic shifts within the art market. More Likely To Prefer Affordable And Accessible Art Pieces Although millennials tend to be better educated than their previous generation, this has not translated to higher access to financial resources. The volatile economic situations, the pressure to acquire relevant skill sets, and the steering away from the classic, traditional career paths, have all resulted in lesser income levels compared to the previous generation at the same age. This makes them shy away from the expensive upper crust, old masters, and seek more affordable and easily accessible art pieces. More Likely To Be Interested In Art Than The Older Generation Millennials enjoy expressing their styles through their surroundings and collections. Art is one medium that helps them showcase their interests and aesthetic sensibilities, which explains their natural affinity to art. These youngsters value personal experiences, and unique art pieces appeal to their intense and passionate emotional landscapes. They love art as an experience as well as an investment and also as a medium to enhance their brand equity. They do not shy away from seeing art as an asset that can build wealth and value it for its resale potential. Impact Of Social Media Like in most other aspects of their life, it is no surprise that millennials discover most of their art online. Millennial collectors are continually active social net-workers, both online and offline. They are tech-savvy and prefer getting information and access to artwork with the least possible mediation possible. They often like connecting directly to the artist or the gallery and getting acquainted with the piece of art before deciding. Access to technology and social media makes this possible. This trend has been a driving factor in many prominent art galleries and museums, now sharing their collections online. This, in turn, has translated to increased public awareness and the opportunity to share artwork and its history with many more potential customers. Many artists and galleries are now interacting directly with customers, making it easy for a potential collector or critic to access and evaluate art pieces.Social media channels like Instagram and Pinterest make it relatively easy for customers to discover new artists or art institutions. Museums and galleries also go the extra mile in social media outreach to grab customer attention and reach a critical audience. Most high-end galleries have an online viewing room, in addition to the traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. Purchasing art online also appeals to Gen Y due to the often-lower price tag at which art is available online and the freedom to connect with the artist directly. This also allows them to share their latest artistic acquisitions with their peers and feeds their 'if you haven't gram it, did you even do it?' mentality. Impact Of Culture Surprisingly, millennials are mostly thought of as less empathetic and often selfish and more interested in culture and art than they are given credit for. In an age when technological advances usually manage to strip a person of his own identity, millennials are now, more than ever, interested in highlighting their own unique identities. Culture, in a way, is a medium to preserve the past, and millennials thrive on nostalgia or their idea of a time when lives were more straightforward. This manifests in ways like their efforts to be a part of the renovation of historical buildings, retaining their original characters while making them currently usable, and their willingness to support regional handicrafts and artisans. The social and political actions taken by millennials, like online activism and pushing for reforms on issues that matter to them, prove that they deeply mesh into the socio-political and cultural fabric of the society in which they live and also show their profound impact on their lives. Kind Of Art That Interests Gen Y Millennials often tend to gravitate towards pieces of art that they can connect with on a personal level. They tend to value an art piece based on its aesthetic appeal and the emotion it manages to evoke in them and not just because it has thename of a famous artist attached to it. This generation seems to be drawn toward contemporary pieces of artwork and towards works of art that steer away from traditional methods and employ unusual materials and mediums.Millennials are changing how art is perceived, and the art markets operate. With their novel characteristics, these tech-savvy Gen Y art connoisseurs are driving substantial changes in the traditional art markets across the globe. They have succeeded in leaving their own distinctive and indelible mark on the art industry. Author: Anupama Vijayakumar

RtistiQ

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

The past decade has seen a considerable shift towards the use of technology in everyday life; it is unlike the 80’s and 90’s when only the rich and the affluent could afford using technology. From being a luxury, technology has become a necessity. With the millennial population on the rise the number of tech savvy youth in the world has increased at a stupendous rate. Entrepreneurs are finding tech based solutions to every challenge in the society, be it for basic entities or for leisure items and services. There has been a massive e-commerce boom. Post the success of players like Ebay and Amazon, the e-commerce sector has seen massive growth. Along with the tilt towards tech based solutions another Global Event has scoured our world, the COVID 19 Pandemic. This pandemic has shown the potential of remote access enterprises where person to person interface and contact is not necessary. In the light of this pandemic the sector which has stood the test of time is the e-commerce sector. The entire world’s population being in a lock-down situation is dependent on the e-commerce sector to deliver all the needs to their doorstep. The e-commerce sector has taken up this calamity as an opportunity and it is adapting to the current economic needs rapidly. In the beginning it was the basic necessities sector that turned to e-commerce as the consumer today prefers delegating that task to the computer so that he/she can focus on other important things. Later as the sector matured and even luxury goods and services started adopting tech based solutions to grow. Fine Art, which has traditionally been an Auction, Gallery or Exhibition driven sector, has shown some signs of adapting e-commerce and tech based solutions is the art sector. Artists benefit a great deal by selling Art online through e-commerce platforms. They don’t have to invest large sums of capital and effort to put up exhibitions for the sale of their artwork. Usually budding artists mainly rely on word of mouth to make a sale. The online platforms offer a fair arena for established and budding talent in the art industry. Artists may also have to incur marketing costs, maintain inventory and bear courier costs. These platforms provide a “one stop solution” for all these challenges. They have made it all very economical and smooth for the Artists, which in a way encourages them to sign their Art Works up on such e-commerce platforms. To help the users navigate successfully through their websites and platforms, the e-commerce art companies and galleries have employed the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning where if the Buyer likes a particular genre of Art Work he/she will be offered various options to consider from the same genre. This way the user experience is customized and individualized based on the Buyers’ interests and tastes. Further to make the customers’ experience more realistic, the platforms have also adopted Augmented and Virtual Reality with In – Room View in their apps and platforms where the customer can see how a particular Art Work would look in their living space and the real world setting. This helps the customer to narrow down his options and take a decision on which Art Work they would want to purchase.Furthermore with recent advancement in digital technology, online e-commerce and marketplaces are able to offer a transparent, authentic and hassle free exchange of high quality Art Works from the Artist to the Buyer. An advantage about adopting technology is that a lot of new solutions have come up which have made the process a lot smoother and fool proof. Like the use of NFC Tags which store a digital footprint of the artwork, thereby ensuring authenticity and duplication of the art work is rendered impossible. A few e-commerce platforms have adopted Block Chain technology which tracks the provenance of the art work. While buying Art Work online the buyer has the satisfaction of buying authentic artwork. Block chain helps to keep track of the creator and the change in ownership of the artwork after every change of hands.Lastly, apart from the above mentioned innovations, the online art sector creates a common platform for Artists, Customers, Scholars, Institutions and other stakeholders all over the world to interact and collaborate with each other. To sum up, what platforms like RtistiQ are achieving was just a dream for the erstwhile Art Enthusiasts. Through this platform artists and buyers can interact with each irrespective of their geographical boundaries. Imagine a painting of a Japanese artist adorning a living room in Mexico. Regional, national and international Art forms will interact with each other and eventually a number of new Art forms will evolve which will be Global in nature. Imagine Kalamkari Art on Catholic wedding gowns. That’s something that will be possible as art forms are recognized globally and join the main stream. Author: Kush Dhebar

RtistiQ

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

South East Asian Art Market Trends Over The Past Decade Over the past ten years, the Southeast Asian art industry has blossomed and managed to carve a niche for itself in the ever-evolving world of fine arts. Factors like the uniqueness of the artwork, its place of origin or provenance, and its existing condition and quality continue to decide its value and worth in the ever-evolving art market. The rich and diverse culture of the artists of this region adds an undeniable appeal to the artistic creation and is, in a way, seen as a celebration of their roots and cultural heritage. Here, we explore some of the trends this sector has witnessed over the past decade. A Shift In Collector Preferences, To Include Contemporary Works Of Art Along With Traditional Creations The steady economic growth in the recent times has translated to a flourish in art appreciation, investment and therefore artistic creations. The increasing affluence and greater influence in matters of global politics and economics of this region, has played a part in the flush of contemporary art from this region. It is often seen as a platform to find a foot hold for region specific art, in the global art world and to showcase the new, modern face of Asia to the world. More than galleries or auction houses, it is the educated, well-heeled and wealthy collectors, who are driving this trend. The strength of contemporary art lies in its ability to highlight both local and global concerns, while remaining rooted to or influenced by a unique culture or heritage. A Shift In The Way Artists Approach Their Work The last few years has seen more artists use their art, as a voice to respond to the social and political tensions in their societies. Their art has captured the socio cultural and political landscape to create powerful works of art, while staying true to their roots.The previous few years has also seen artists experimenting with different medium, combining traditional art forms with contemporary expressions. The visual vocabulary created by these artists often reemphasize the fact that creative work can often act as a catalyst for positive change, while simultaneously managing to shine the spotlight on traditional artistic methods. The last ten years have also witnessed artists getting more attuned to market trends and collector preferences, while retaining their own artistic liberties, thereby creating pieces of art that have a global appeal. A Shift In Customer Engagement Channels These art markets have been garnering a lot of global attention in recent times. One of the main trends in this respect, witnessed over this time frame is the ease of visibility and accessibility of these art works for potential customers, through increased number of exhibitions, biennale, museums, and private patronage.What the South East Asian art market was lacking, was not talented artists, but a strong and internationally competitive art ecosystem, to showcase its plethora of fine arts. The past years have seen a dramatic change in this aspect, with Singapore emerging as a sort of cultural hub for art from this region and forming a veritable ecosystem, to showcase its delightful offerings. Art fairs are a major attraction for visitors and help hundreds of galleries, curators, artists and collectors to show, buy and sell the best of the regional art. These art fairs act as a channel to connect the artists and potential customers. A Shift In The Perspective, Where Art Is Seen As A Resilient Investment Option The recent years have seen a huge shift in the way collectors, mainly Asian collectors, view art as a solid investment choice. There is also a widespread notion that investing in South East Asian art, may offer a bargain for the collector, as they can get a quality art piece from a blue chip artist here, for a fraction of the cost when compared to established artists in the west. The rise of the tech savvy, globetrotting collector who values art not just in terms of monetary investments, but also in terms of its human and intellectual potential, has also been a major game changer. The relative stability of art in a volatile economic scenario, has also boosted its status as a solid investment option. The last few years have seen a dramatic change in the buying and selling of artwork from this region, releasing it from geographical constraints and making it globally diversified. This trend has in many ways buffered the risks, enabling the local art markets, to bounce back better after a recession. A Shift In The Customer Landscape To Include A Wider Range Of Customers, Who Understands The Value And Nuances Of The Artwork The past few years have seen a sizable increase in collectors who are young, well-traveled and social media savvy. They are better informed about the subtle nuances of the art creations and their value; money being a part of it, and not the whole. These collectors, in many cases millennial's, are a force to reckon with, driving gallery sales, aiding in museum developments, both public and private. The local art market’s strength lies in the face that most of its patrons hail from that region itself. This makes their collections more focused and often these collectors are well informed of the nuances of art, specific to that region.This time frame has seen a significant positive trend, with respect to elements such as individual buying capacity, development in cultural infrastructures, rise of art institutions and support services, to enhance the art markets. It has also witnessed favorable government regulatory climate, both within the region and internationally.These favorable trends will play a significant role in helping these regional specific markets find a foot hold in the global art markets. Author: Anupama Vijayakumar

RtistiQ

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

Suppose you are an art collector and have brought an artwork online. In that case, you know the usual doubts that haunt you – how do you determine the artwork is authentic, how do you trace the artist, how do you ensure your bank details are secure while making payments, how do you ascertain you will receive the piece you bought and not some cheap copy. In short, you do not want to be duped. You would be delighted if you could track the entire journey of your invaluable artwork from the artist's home to your doorstep.If you are an artist using an e-commerce platform to sell your artwork, you want your payments to process in the shortest time possible, and it would be a bonus if you could trace the payments in real-time, just like you could know the journey of your creation to the buyer. There are a few ways to resolve these suspicions for artists and collectors. In the past few years, there has been an immense transformation in technology, making it possible to secure art in a digital economy.RtistiQ uses the strengths of digital technology to secure art and brings transparency and openness to the art industry. The e-commerce platform utilizes NFC technology to enable the sellers to ensure the artwork's authenticity.NFC means Near Field Communication, which implies that the device can communicate with another device ‘near’ itself. Near-field communication is a standard for wireless data transitions. You can understand it as two devices connecting and transferring data when they come in close contact. One or both devices can contain data and read the data from the other device. In certain scenarios, only one device could be capable of reading data while the other works as a passive device simply containing the data to be read. Smartphones in contemporary world are the most common form of active NFC device, which implies that your smartphone can read information of any other NFC device when it comes in close contact with the other device. This capability is used at RtistiQ to solve the problem of ascertaining trusted transactions of buying and selling of artworkthrough e-commerce platform. At RtistiQ, each artwork is attached with a unique tamper-proof NFC tag. The NFC Sticker tag contains the basic information about the artwork such as name of the artist, artwork dimesions, style and medium of creation. This information is tamper proof and locked from further writing and provides authentication for the artwork. The NFC tags are passive in nature with a life-span of over 50+ years, and there is no security concern since the device is not connected to the internet.When an artist starts working with RtistiQ, they receive NFC tag with unique ID to be attached to each of their artwork. This information is also stored securely on the web portal with a unique key and is used to identify each artwork available on RtistiQ platform. As a buyer, you can login to the web portal to search for the artwork using the unique key. When you receive the artwork at your home, if you have the RtistiQ mobile app, your smartphone would be able to read the NFC device on the artwork and confirm that the artwork you have received is the one that you bought. You can also use the RtistiQ website to compare the ID from NFC device for authenticating your purchase.Hence, RtistiQ ensures that whether you are an artist selling your artwork through our website, or an art collector making a purchase from our art collection, you have an assurance that originally placed artwork is transacted.Provision of NFC tags for each piece of art available on our platform is a certain way to ensure authentication, but at RtistiQ, we also ensure secure transactions. We use blockchain technology to create a secure link between the physical object i.e. artwork and its digital life through the supply chain. This one-to-one link ensures absolute transparency and trust in the authenticity of the artwork, through its journey from the artist’s home to art collector’s home. Combining blockchain and NFC technology, artwork sold through RtistiQ is safe from counterfeits entering the supply chain, as well as avoids any chance of information being compromised in any way. Blockchain, put very simply, is a chain of blocks containing information. The information contained within a block depends on the type of block. For example, it may contain the information of a buyer or seller, including their names, addresses, payment methods, contact information etc. In addition, a block also contains a hash. It is a unique identification of the block and the contents within the block. If any information inside the block changes, it causes the hash to change. The block does not remain the same block. Hence, a block which has been created once with a certain information would be almost impossible to modify. As an additional security measure, a block also contains the hash of previous block in the chain. If someone tries to modify a block, the hash of the block would change, but the following block would still contain the old hash. This would make the modified block invalid and thus would not allow the transaction to proceed. In other words, any information created using blockchain technology remains immutable over time. This helps secure the transactions, involving exchange of financial or personal data. Blockchain technology works on peer-to-peer connection between devices, hence there is no need for an intermediary to be involved in a transaction. This way, payments can process without the need for a bank or payment gateway. Hence, the transaction is efficient in addition to being secure, reliable, and traceable.RtistiQ uses blockchain to store details about buyer and seller IDs. It also contains details of artwork and a unique ID to identify the artwork. All this information is part of a public blockchain and hence, accessible to everyone involved in the supply chain of the journey of the artwork. Although the blockchain is public, it is secure with the use of unique alphanumeric ID and works on the standard principles of blockchain technology to make the transactions safe.RtistiQ uses a robust alliance between NFC and Blockchain technologies to deliver digitally secure art, so whether you are an artist or an art connoisseur, you can leave the technology to us while you focus on what you do best. Author: Manisha Bhati

RtistiQ

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE

When one brings up the topic of Unity in Diversity, India comes up in most of the conversations. This is not an anomaly per-se but India has been an example of different diverse cultures, languages, art forms, religions and a lot more existing in peaceful coexistence with each other within the same geographical boundaries. In a number of ways, these diverse elements fuse together to produce even more new hybrid elements. Keeping these cultural forces in mind India has been home to a number of schools and styles of paintings, which have evolved over a period of time since 1000’s of years, maybe even more. In their original forms these paintings were done mostly on flat surfaces like rock shelters, house walls, floors and murals. It was later that these styles were adapted on various other mediums like ceramics and fabrics. Each major school of painting has a unique story to tell and these paintings help art historians re-construct the past cultures. These paintings depict the past lives of the contemporary people who made them like their daily practices, religious rituals, favorite past times, festivals and many more anecdotes. Warli The earliest evidence of art comes in the form of Prehistoric Art, like one sees at the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka. Warli Art derives its origins from this prehistoric art. It is widely prevalent in rural districts of Thane and Nasik and other small parts of Maharashtra. This is a monochromatic art style in which twigs are used with rice paste. Usually white and yellow color on red mud walls is seen on the walls of houses. These paintings depict the everyday life of the village dwellers like their religious rituals, hunting practices and their festivals. In the 1970's, this ritual art took a radical turn when Jivya Soma Mashe and his son Balu Mashe started to paint. They painted not for ritual purposes, but because of their artistic pursuits. Jivya is known as the modern father of Warli painting. Since the 1970s, Warli painting has moved onto paper and canvas. Courtesy: http://godivinity.org/quiz-time-warli-art/ Madhubani This art form has mythical origins. According to a lot of contemporary village based artists who have kept this tradition alive, this painting style originated under the great King Janak of Mithila, which is present day Bihar and regions of Nepal. Till 1934, the outside world was oblivious about this art form. It was British Officer William G. Archer who saw some illustrations on the walls of houses of Bihar that had broken down in an earthquake. This art form uses simple floral, geometric and Indian Mythical designs and illustrations on colorful, symmetrical backdrops. Even today, Madhubani is a very popular folk art form. There are five schools within this art form which are, Bharni, Katchni, Tantric, Godna and Kohbar, which were primarily done by Upper Caste women in India and Nepal. Nowadays the Art Form has received a global outlook, which has made the Art Form go above the Caste System and there is no difference in the style practiced. Madhubani painting received official recognition in 1969 when Sita Devi (Padma Shri) received the State award by Government of Bihar. Jagdamba Devi (Padma Shri) was the first artist from Mithila to receive a National Award in Mithila paintings. Satya Narayan Lal Karn, his wife Moti Karn, Mahasundari Devi (Padma Shri), Baua Devi, Yamuna Devi, Shanti Devi, Chano Devi, Bindeshwari Devi, Chandrakala Devi, Shashi kala Devi, Leela Devi, Godavari Dutta, and Bharti Dayal are the other Madhubani Artists who were adorned by National Awards for their contributions to the Art form. Courtesy: Wikipedia (Kohbar made by artist Padma Shri Sita Devi) Phad This painting style has questionable origins but a lot of scholars are of the opinion that origins of this school of art has its roots with the coming up of Princely States in present day Rajasthan. One can do an approximate dating as this style is only executed on cloth so an educated guess can be around the early medieval period. In this form one comes across horizontal paintings of the lives of Legendary Heroes, Kings and Princes with their wars and other adventures. The most common colors used in this style are red, yellow and orange. It is interesting to see how multiple stories are narrated on a horizontal scroll. Courtesy: Wikipedia (Pabuji Ki Phad, a Phad painting scroll at National Museum, New Delhi) The Joshi families of Bhilwara, Shahpura in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan are widely known as the traditional artists of this folk art-form for the last two centuries. Presently, Shree Lal Joshi, Nand Kishor Joshi, Pradip Mukherjee, Prakash Joshi , Ghanshyam Joshi and Shanti Lal Joshiare the most noted artists of the phad painting, who are known for their innovations and creativity. Kerala Mural Painting Around the same time as the Phad, deep in southern part of the country in Kerala originated a very distinct type of painting style known for its colorful, vivacious and bold strokes. This art form is dated to around 8 th century A.D. so it can actually be put before the Phad in the chronological timeline. This art form developed as a medium of depicting spiritual and religious themes of Shiva, Shakti, Krishna and Mythology. All natural colors are used while executing this art form also known as panchavarna, most common being Ochre-Red, Yellow-Ochre, Bluish Green, Black and White. Courtesy: Yourstory By finding space for mural art outside the temples, it was the late Mammiyur Krishnan Kutty Nair, doyen of modern mural art in Kerala, who gave a new life to it during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Over the past several centuries, the pigments, glues and brushes for the Kerala mural tradition have been derived from natural sources, but now the newer promoters are utilizing modern pigments and colors for the art form Gond Painting This school of painting derives its name from one of the largest, forest dwelling tribal group called the Gonds. The Gonds are found mostly in present day regions of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhatisgarh. This art form is a very unique and intricate style where the painter uses dots and dashes to complete the painting and the painting is executed in such a way that one feels that it is made of straight lines and colors. Lines are used in such a way that it conveys a sense of movement to the still images. In the historic period the colors were naturally extracted from charcoal, cow dung, seed saps and flowers. The Gonds are known for their close affinity with mother nature and hence their paintings mostly depict natural landscapes, wildlife and parts of their stories passed on from generation to generation in the form of Oral Bardic Traditions. Courtesy: Isha Foundation Today, many talented Gond artists' works including Suresh Kumar Dhurve's can be seen on canvases in art galleries internationally. One of the distinctive elements is the use of signature patterns that are used to infill the larger forms on the canvas. Due to the scarcity of natural colors in the current age, Gond artists have started to use poster colors. This combined with the use of canvas has made modern Gond paintings much more vivid than its traditional counter parts. Kalamkari Painting This is one of the most famous art styles of India and it has made a mark in the international art spheres as well thanks to a lot of patronage from people all around the globe. This art style like Madhubani has a very rich antiquity but in material record it appears for the first time on the temple walls of the Sri Kalahasteshwar Temple in Sri Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh under the Pallava Rulers. Later this temple was further renovated under the Later Cholas and finally new additions like the Gopuram and the thousand pillared hall were made by the famous Vijayanagara Monarch Sri Krishnadevaraya. It was in Sri Kalahasti under the Vijayanagara Patronage that this art form reached its zenith. This painting style started as a temple wall decoration style where themes of mythology and festivities were depicted. Later this art form was adapted on fabric which gave it a huge international market. There are two variants in this style, namely, Srikalahasti and the Machilipatnam style. The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari, in which the pen or the “kalam” is used for freehand drawing and filling in the colors, is a complete handwork art. Machilipatnam style of Kalamkari craft involves vegetable-dyed block-painting of a fabric. Miniature Paintings During the 10th and 11th Centuries along with the advent of Persian-ate Rule in the Indian Subcontinent a number of Persian-ate elements were introduced by painters from Central Asia like Turks, Persians and Afghans. They introduced what we now call the Miniature Paintings where illustrations are executed from natural stone based colors on paper based ‘wasli’. This painting style reached its zenith under the Mughals and it is known for the intricacy, brush strokes and symbolism. Interesting this painting has affinity with the European Renaissance art in the form of realism that is shown in these paintings. The most common example of these painting style is use of portraits of Kings and Queens to show their heroism and glamour. There are a lot of regional variations of miniature paintings, most common being Kangra, Dakkhani, Mughal, Bundi etc. Tanjore Paintings This style developed in the 1600’s in the state of Thanjavur under the Nayaka Rulers. This art form borrows extensively from the Dakkhani and Maratha miniature painting styles. The most common feature of this school of painting is the use of silver and gold foil. Most common depictions in this art form are scenes from Indian Mythology, Kingly Portraits and scenes of Festivities. Artists have taken this old form of art and over the years combined it with other styles to create mixed media arts. For example, tanjores are also done on mirrors, glass and canvas. The idea of applying gold foil is unique to this traditional art, so this same style is taken and recreated on different mediums. Patachitra This is a late medieval style of painting that originated in present day Odisha. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words patta, meaning canvas, and chitra, meaning picture. Pattachitra is thus a painting done on canvas, and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs, and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction. The patuas or the painters of the patachitras were primarily wandering artists- who would travel from place to place with painted scrolls of various deities. However, in recent times, just as the canvas has taken the shape of papers bought easily from the market many a times, the natural colours are also substituted with easily bought acrylic and fabric paints from the market. Pichwai This form of painting style originated as wall hanging cloth paintings behind the Krishna idols in the Krishna Temples of Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Originally only themes from the Krishna Leela were depicted on cloth but as time went by more secular painting themes were executed on cloth for commercial purposes. These paintings are known for colorful, robust and intricate work with concealed hidden meanings within the symbolism. Kalighat Paintings This painting style finds its origins in the mid – 19 th Century Bengal. It is known as Kalighat because it started in the vicinity of the Kali Temple in Kolkata, where Patuas sat and painted mill-made paper with flowing brushwork using earthy colors like indigo, ochre and red. The major inspiration of these paintings are the scenes from the Mythology and Spiritualism, also known as "Oriental school of Kalighat Painting". Under the influence of British and the art schools promoted by them, the “Occidental school, of Kalighat painting” included pieces that depicted ordinary people engaging in everyday life or captured the changes taking place in Kolkata at the time. These paintings are known for their swift, seamless and free flowing outlines. The late artist Jamini Roy is among some of the most acclaimed painters who have been influenced by the distinctive style. Today, Kalighat paintings appear in museums and galleries across the globe, from the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata to the Naprstek Museum in Prague. Hence, one can see how India is a melting pot where a number of painting styles originated. However, due to Globalization and Industrialization these native folk painting styles are losing their importance and there is a lot of lack of awareness among the current urban middle and affluent class of India, who are mostly exposed to foreign painting and art forms. The Indian Government and a number of NGO’s are trying to spread awareness about these painting styles so that they can be revived. E-Commerce platforms like RtistiQ are trying to take these folk Indian art styles to the International market where these paintings can be sold and hence create a livelihood for the artists and help keep these old traditions alive. Author: Kush Dhebar

RTISTIQ TEAM

26 Nov 2020

5 min to read

SAVE

SHARE