So you love contemporary Indian art but don’t want to burn a deep hole in your pocket with the high prices? Aicon Editions may be just the answer for tough, economic times. Now you can own noted artists like Baiju Parthan, Farida Batool, Chintan Upadhyay and Raqs Media Collective at a fraction of the price, with especially commissioned works from Aicon Gallery: each work is from a limited edition of 75 pieces with 5 artists’ proofs, and comes with artist’s signature and proof of authenticity.
Since most of these artists’ larger works sell from $25,000 to $50,000, these editions are a frugal way to own a piece of the action. “$50,000 is an entrance barrier – you’re immediately keeping a number of people out,” says Projjal Dutta of Aicon Gallery. “Part of our objective was also to recruit new collectors, to get younger people interested as buyers.” Most of these works are around $1000, which is a doable figure for young collectors. They could also go up in value since only 75 pieces are created, after which the mold and plates are broken. Says Dutta: “Editions is a business of immense probity – it’s all very explicit, in black and white.”
The Aicon Editions include several provocative works by noted artists, including a dramatic sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi stretched out on a reclining chair by Debanjan Roy; another of the Father of the Nation with headphones. These are from India Shining series, and use Gandhi as a metaphor for a changing India where old and new collide. Well, old and new ideas are certainly colliding in the art world with all these innovations, and art lovers will surely be the gainers – especially in their pocket-books!
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