JOIN USA painting or a sculpture can enhance the ambience of an otherwise staid looking room. Artwork is also a fine investment option, says Bindu Gopal Rao.
T home is a priceless investment in itself. How about accentuating it with other pieces that not just add to the décor but also serve as an investment? Well if that sounds too good to be true, read on.
Making the right selection of an art work at home is of paramount importance. Often selecting and buying art is also an art in itself. While buying art there are two perspectives - visual delight and the taste for buying art with a collector’s mind. Again the size of the piece must be apt for your home. It should fit into the space that you have in mind for its display. “If above a sofa make sure the art work is placed higher so people will not rest their heads on the artwork while seated on the sofa. If the artwork is for a corridor don’t chose very large works. Smaller works work better in corridors. If there is direct sunlight avoid using watercolours in those areas,” advices Premilla Baid, an art aficionado.
“The colour of your walls, and the subsequent color of the art piece must be in sync. So you could bring a pop of colour in a dark room, or simply use the colours to highlight the theme of the overall décor,” adds Natasha Bohra, an independent design curator. The lighting around the art piece must be very specific and minimal according to the need, which is another very important aspect to be kept in mind. Also bear in mind that you do not clutter your home with several art elements that will rob the piece of its rightful place in your home. Art is a very powerful tool of expression, it will talk of the taste you have in art and the kind of style you like of a particular artist. “Also what you have to remember is that it has to be a part of your interior and not dominate a space and become a focal point. For example if you have minimalist furniture and hang a large M F Husain canvas in the background no one will notice anything else but the painting. Art can dominate any space if not used rightly,” opines Rouble Nagi, artist and muralist. As a rule, paintings should be hung so that the centre of the paintings is at eye level. “Paintings should not be displayed on damp walls. If you find any insect infestation, any yellowing or damage on the painting, wrap it in a bubble wrap and take it to an expert/art restorer for examination or restoration,” says Sanchit Joshan, an art expert.
Checkpoint
Art is a décor aspect that is unlike any other and naturally there are several aspects that you must keep in mind before making a purchase. Originality and authenticity is an aspect that is of prime importance. “While buying art check the credentials of the artist, the medium and the price range. And generally art can be further classified into three segments–contemporary, traditional and antique,” explains Manu Garg, a realty expert.
Visiting art galleries will give you an insight into the kind of art that works. “Speak with the gallerists who can advice on artists who show promise. Go through the bio-data of the artist, see where he has studied art, has he shown with good reputed galleries,” says Baid. Pravin Rao, another realty expert adds, “the look of the art deco piece should be strong enough and there should be no fussiness anywhere, the same material or the common themes should not pop up again and again, colors should be striking and bold enough with beautiful contrasts and for painting the fabric should be kept in mind while selecting it.”
When buying art make sure to avoid known pitfalls. Never buy art pieces on an impulse, always come back and analyse the space you have available, and if the art would otherwise compliment the overall appeal of your house. Bharat Kumar A, founder of an art house, cautions, “try to avoid prints of original artworks as it doesn’t become an artwork.” Buying art merely because the artist is well known must be avoided at all times. “Many artists experiment with new media and if it is something you want for a longer duration choose a sturdy material (applicable for sculptures),” advices art consultant Chandini Harlalka. Gitanjali Maini, art expert and curator adds, “false advise on appreciation of the artwork and artist is something to be aware of. Indian art became worthy of investment after the artists had struggled for over 50 years. Investment is very possible as art from Indian artists have great potential but that being the primary focus for buying is not advisable.” Sahil Jain, furniture expert cautions, “do not get carried away by big names and fancy prices. Not every work created by a well known artist is equally good. Trust your own judgment and select items that work for your room. Don’t try and buy art work for your home as an investment. Buy what the room requires and what you like.”
Good art curators will advise you to buy an artwork because you like it rather than viewing it as an investment. Of course investing in big names comes at a price so you could look at investing in young and upcoming artists. Investing in art is not simple.
“Even if the artist is a newbie, his/her works can be collected if it goes with your gut feeling and likes. One must never forget to ask for an authenticity/provenance certificate from the gallery/artist while collecting an artwork as it eventually determines how authentic the artwork is and tomorrow in case of re-sale of the artwork, it really helps,” opines Kumar. Always approach the right gallery which gives a right feedback on the artists and artworks and gives a clear opinion regarding the same. R C Dalal, an interiors expert explains, “visit art galleries, speak to a lot of art consultants, go down on websites which are art auction websites and if you follow a particular artist you can get quite an easy formula to know which art piece is onthe rise and which is not doing so well. Also the recent showings of the artist also bring about a change in the prices.”Remember art is a personal choice and a great way to customise your home to reflect your sense of aesthetics. So make an informed decision and choose wisely – it will then add to the décor and be a piece of investment as well!