The fear of the unknown in collecting

Can an artist fight the popular image and identity that makes him or her familiar and comfortable with the collectors? This is an important aspect of creativity that art expert Kishore Singh deals with in a recent essay.

Mostly, an artist won’t be allowed to stray too far away from his or her fidelity with a subject matter by two important elements – first, the gallerist, and then the buyer (who may be either a collector or an investor). The former tends to reflect popular demand and often will ask for works of art, which have previously gone well with buyers. To put it in practical terms, if it ain’t broken, why take a risk of tinkering with it! On the other hand, buyer can commission artists to create a work in their more identifiable mode.

There are a couple of reasons why a collector would want to opt for the familiar - that instant recognition for his or her work and name is similar to a social badge of honor, but the other, when that work is not recognized in spite of the premium paid for the signature, can get rather embarrassing. The art expert highlights the mindset by stating: “What’s the point of having paid so much of a premium if one has to explain the deviation in that artist’s style, and then be ticked off for having made the wrong choice?”

So is that really ‘wrong’ choice for an aspiring collector (who wishes to be acknowledged and appreciated for his quality ownership) also the wrong option for any investor? Familiarity with a theme or style might work better (Husain’s horses etc) in the short term. Buyers- whether they are investors or collectors - are put off by the fear of the unknown, and understandably prefer a tried and tested path that is more familiar and safer.

However, in the longer run, it’s the distinctiveness, and most importantly rarity or novelty that will impact prices positively. Hence, a Subodh Gupta work sans utensils may make the grade and turn into a talking point. The uniqueness of a work defined by its innovation ultimately becomes a distinguishing quality of it.