In what could be seen as the first major attempt to raise funds for an independent experimental art space, ten prominent artists like Anish Kapoor, Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher have donated their works which will be sold at the upcoming Christie's India auction to benefit the Khoj International Artists' Association (KIAA).
This philanthropic association, in many ways, has initiated a much-needed dialogue between experimental art hubs and art partners to engage in conversations that go beyond the white space of galleries and create a legacy for future generations.
"Art is always seen as something being supported by galleries and this is required because artists have to earn. But, if you think of art as an object, it requires research and development and India doesn't have many such spaces where science, art and ecology come together and are supported by patrons," KIAA director Pooja Sood told IANS.
This is where the New Delhi-based alternate forum, known for offering a holistic platform for research and development of fresh creative minds in South Asia, has been working for the past 18 years.
Sustenance is an issue when you share a different vision or take another path. This is equally true for Sood who has been driving her passion in a difficult funding ecosystem, with "fragile" financial muscle.
Hence this dynamic association where prominent artists are lending their support and international auction house Christie's is giving them a separate space, alongside modern art pieces, in its second India auction in Mumbai Dec 11 to enable KIAA raise a corpus.
Associations like this aren't new for Christie's, though. Last year it had sold a work by artist Bhupen Khakhar to benefit the Aakansha Trust. Sonal Singh, head of department, Christie's India, told IANS it always tries to "include a charity element to our sales".
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"This year we are delighted to be able to support Khoj, whose artists' residency programme provides such support to emerging artists," she added.
It would be unfair to suggest that art in today's time is struggling to find patrons, unlike the times of kings and feudal lords. Cultural custodians still exist and regularly commission artists to offer them much-deserved support and encouragement.
As art historian and curator Alka Pande put it: "The style of patronage and the texture of patrons has changed from what it was in the past."
Expanding on this, Pande told IANS that corporates like the Tatas, the ex-royals of Udaipur and Jodhpur and individuals like Ebrahim Alkazi are supporting artists and art in today's time.
"Art can't exist without patronage," said Pande, pointing out how art has found constant companions and patronage since the Chandragupta period to Mughal period and now.
After independence in 1947, the government was equally enthused with the idea of safeguarding
cultural history and making people more art conscious.
This is how national institutes like the Lalit Kala Akadami and the National Gallery of Modern Art came into being. However, they became more of a space for exhibitions and representatives of modern artists.
Contemporary artists were left to survive on their own, and the thought of lending support to experimental art and various mediums was limited to niche art patrons.
"We have some daring and regular collectors who have been supporting us in fulfilling our vision. But there is always this constant pressure of innovating and living up to their expectations to keep them coming back to us," said Sood.
To consolidate, when Sood thought of associating with Christie's India, she received "warm" responses from contemporary artists who agreed to be a part of this fund-raising initiative.
"They have all given some meaningful works," said Sood.
Other prominent names who are lending support are: Anita Dube, Atul Dodiya, Dayanita Singh, Mithu Sen, Nilima Sheikh, Shilpa Gupta and Thukral and Tagra - an eclectic assortment lends huge credibility to KIAA.
"An autonomous space such as Khoj is vital to how we look at art in India. That process is a fundamental tool to creating and that product isn't necessarily an end," Bharti Kher told IANS.
"We don't achieve everything we wish to and there are mistakes, but the fact that our artist friends support us means that something resonates within them. We now need to put a core fund in place to keep Khoj going," she added.
With the hope that the auction would provide this cultural laboratory enough corpus funds to sustain, Sood's only wish is to see people wake up to the "cause of art and culture" and take it seriously.
(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)