DIGITAL COPY ON MAGZTERExcerpts from the conversationWhat, in your opinion, makes a good collector?
Kiran Nadar: The eye of a collector is very
important. So the effort to build a collection
matters. Also, the depth of your willing to build
a collection is necessary. Collector needs to have
norms to need to collect the art.
Jai Danani: A good collector of any type of
art form – sculpture, painting, memorabilia,
jewellery – requires three elements: 1) an
in-depth understanding of the subject
through research and education, 2) an eye
for differentiating the good for the mediocre,
and 3) the courage of their conviction when
collecting to stay true to their vision of their
collection and not be swayed by fads or others.How do you begin collecting and how do you build
it?
Kiran Nadar: I began collecting from home
when I was building my house in 80’s. After
that I continued collecting without knowing
what I should do with the collection. I thought
of setting up a museum in 2004-2005 and as
the collection grew in four–five years I set up
my museum in 2010.Jai Danani: I started collecting at a very
early age; I bought my first work at 10 while
rummaging through the stock room of
Chemould Gallery with Shireen Gandhy – it’s a
wonderful Sudhir Patwardhan work that I hold
very dear to me. From there I started to rapidly
acquire a host of things – everything from
Chinese blue and white pottery to antique silver
to modern and contemporary Indian art. It
wasn’t till I was in college that I started to focus
my collection on contemporary Indian art and
antiquity. I now try and narrow it even further
into truly just the artists and time periods that
inspire me the most.Should you buy on the primary market, on the
secondary market, at auctions, or at art fair?
Kiran Nadar: All of the above (laughs)! I could
look at affordable art, new emerging artists
at the primary market and look at secondary
market when I wish to invest. Auction houses
are a great place where I get best collections
and works that are different. Fairs are good
places too as all the galleries participate in one
platform and I can look at new collections to
invest in.Kiran Nadar, Chairperson, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
Image Courtesy of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
Jai Danani, Managing Director, The Art Vault
Photograph by Jaimal OdedraIAF - Delhi Connecting Art/ feb 2016 - mar 2016 / arts illustrated /^63