ART Vs A.R.T.

THE TROJAN ACT, conte & charcoal on paper, artist : Soumen Bhowmick

Its’s not a story of a lost soul neither a fickle dead argument. It’s a collective effort of all my senses to make an honest effort to present a clear perspective of the present art scenario. The contemporary art practices and its nuances from a new angle.

“ART for the artists is an honourable self exploration for the benefit of the society as a whole”, this is my understanding of ART. Sometimes it reflects the realities of life is a more raw mundane way and sometime in a more subtle vibration. Knowingly or unknowingly artists make A.R.T. (Active Repetitive Thinking). May be I’m the first individual to penned this term…HURRAH! What a revelation to come. Now expect the unexpected from the raw art…

 Many of us now a days are producing clones as ART, which is ultimately taking shape as >Active Repetitive Thinking (A.R.T.)< and feel proud of their creations. Galleries, so-called Art Critics, Collectors and Curators are pumping their jack for these skillful mass producers of A.R.T. No names here, but I don’t feel the need to nullify or justify their stand here. The present downward journey of the art scene in terms of financial gains is evident enough to ratify my position. May be not, but take some time and explore the art producers of INDIA now and you will see the 

Active Repetitive Thinking syndrome is suffered by most of the artists, mostly painters or installation artists. Some of the best known names of Contemporary Indian art are feeling the horrible jolt of their lifetime. Their values have taken a down spin and going down deeper by every passing day. The promoters of these big shots have either fled the art scene or banished themselves to self-imposed exile. Many well know galleries and art funds have closed down BODHI, ANANT ART, MINT, PAINT BRUSH & CHISEL, BOSE & PACIA (Kolkata), RELIGARE ART GALLERY, ART ROOM, BAJAJ CAPITAL ART HOUSE and HONGKONG FINE ARTS (Manisha Khemka) to name a few. The rest are in a real bad shape, limping towards their self created hollow goals. All through 2005 till 2009 all these galleries and self proclaimed art promoters have done enough damage to make the greatest dent to the Indian art scene. They have punctured the morale of serious dedicated artists who worked tirelessly, away from the lime light and all these shooshabaji (Nonsensical sounds of false glory). The aced Art Critics and Curators have written thousands of words for the upliftment of these great performers. Years have been spent to create a false hype around certain artists. It suited all of them, the artists, the Galleries, the Curators and the Art Collectors or Investors. And the PR firms made their juicy cuts from these affairs, the entire affair used to be well orchestrated...a great symphony, but so fake! Prices of artworks touched the roof, yet qualitatively they are no good than a mere photocopy of realism around. Size does matter…no make it big. Huge canvases with mere placing of photographically referred elements, well synchronized and brightly painted. These breed of hyped ART were cherished and got pushed around for many years. Still around but the speed has been slowed down by reality of time. 

Years after years all we have seen is Active Repetitive Thinking (A.R.T.) in the form of boring, gigantic steel assemblages, forced dark eroticism with very predictive boldness and treatment, Buddha’s and Ganesha’s popping up as new found icons of Indian art, abstract colour patches, smart collages with minimalist approach and super realistic plastic paintings. Very dead and soulless effort by a large number of artists, some of them cream of Indian Contemporary art. Repetitive usage of content in the form of photographic support or reference is a mere short cut for most of the artists today. Ignoring their true soul stirring efforts to create something genuine and qualitative. The works created are least memorable, with a plastic like essence to their being. 

Another great menace which have popped up recently as a black hole for all serious Artists, is the ‘AFFORDABLE ART’ scene. Well packaged, glamorized, interior friendly, cheap in price, party conscious and dead in content is their profile. This Active Repetitive Thinking (A.R.T.) is now growing at a rapid speed, profoundly displayed in high value malls and galleries. Feel sorry to call them CURIO shops in the garb of posh galleries. They have fancy names and equally fancy attitude towards ART. These sellers of A.R.T. have done more harms to real ART than destiny itself. The perception of ART as a cheaper option for decoration has really harmed the serious ART scenario. It gives rise to A.R.T. that has no value as appreciation over the years monetarily. Qualitatively they are poor, no brains used, any pain involved…absolutely any soul into the ART. The concept of ART management is absolutely missing in Indian scenario. Poor maintenance of archive or total ignorance of art cataloging. It’s done so in the name of cost saving by galleries. Except for few big galleries who take great pain to make research and cataloging a serious affair of their art exhibitions.

Mass produced A.R.T. is now hanging unsold in most of the galleries. The auction houses are seeing the reality of time more lately. Some of the so-called icons of Contemporary Indian Art have gone unsold in major International Auctions during recent days. Within this turmoil will give rise to some of the best talents from India. Their perseverance and utmost honesty towards their profession will give a new meaning to ART. The recent fall of the art scene in terms of sales has done much better justice to the hard working faceless talents of our land. Slowly but surely they are now getting recognized. 

Their time has come, ROAR out the real tigers of Indian Art and show A.R.T. its real place!

By: 

Soumen Bhowmick

Date : 08/7/2013