Arts_Illustrated_-_February-March_2016

DIGITAL COPY ON MAGZTER

Shakuntala Patralekhan, Raja Ravi

Varma, Oil on Canvas, 1894

Image Courtesy of Kiran Nadar

Museum of Art

Yatra, M.F. Husain, Oil on canvas,

1955, Image Courtesy of Kiran

Nadar Museum of Art

The Skin Speaks a language Not

its Own, Bharti Kher, Bindis and

Fibre-glass, 2006, Image Courtesy

of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

Jai Danani: I think a good collector doesn’t

look at which market to buy work, but merely

for the work itself. Sometimes hunting down a

particular work is the most enriching part of the

collecting process – as you learn so much about

its provenance and its own journey before it

comes to you.

Why collect art at all? What stimulates you?

Kiran Nadar: Art itself stimulates me. It is an

asset on its own. I am collecting art to expose

people to art and at the same time I do not

want to lose money. I do not want to sell either.

Art should be looked at as an asset class. By

collecting, you are empowering people with

your collection. It is heritage that should be

perpetuated. Why buy jewellery at all? Why

invest in the share market at all?

Jai Danani: For me, I think, the answer actually

lies in my collection. I have chosen to focus

primarily on contemporary Indian art and

classical Indian art, two completely different

time periods and genres. Thus collecting art

enables me to straddle the past and the present

in a unique and inspiring way. I think what

stimulates me the most is when contemporary

artists decides to reinvent themselves –

experimenting in new media and executing it

well. I find that journey that they go through

extremely intellectually and emotionally

stimulating.

(^64) / arts illustrated / feb 2016 - mar 2016 /IAF - Delhi Connecting Art