Aartzy offers futuristic platform for artists
Two gentlemen were walking down Green Path in search of a painting. As Janaka Perera shared, "Usually, Green Path is a place where you could find artwork of local street artists. But it was a gloomy and drizzling day and we could only find one artist who was selling his artwork from the back of a van."
This was an artist who made his living by selling his paintings on the street and most of his business depended on tourism. After this encounter, Perera, who has years of experience in business administration and marketing, identified a dire need in the Sri Lankan market for a proper platform for local artists to sell their work. With the pressures of marketing and selling their work, artists were not able to solely focus on their craft. This was the inspiration that urged him to initiate Aartzy, an e-commerce platform that sells paintings, sculptures and digital prints, becoming a middle ground between artists and buyers. Among many other online art stores, what would make Aartzy special?
For instance, as a business currently based in Canada, it was able to win the 'Art Store of the Year' award for the 2020/2021 period.
First and foremost, it is not just an online platform that provides an opportunity to sell the crafts of artists. It creates an international identity for them, thereby generating international recognition for the artists and their artwork. According to Perera, Aartzy Managing Director, the international art market is valued at 73 billion USD and the exponentially growing online market is currently valued at over 1 billion USD. So, this platform provides great advantages and opportunities for local artists, who get access to this wider international market without solely depending on tourism, local galleries, or the limited local market.
However, given the nature of the businesses that operate in the market, locally and internationally, it is essential to ascertain the reliability and credibility of any platform before utilizing it. It has been two and half years since the initiation of Aartzy, and according to Perera, they have successfully carried out operations for one and a half years. While it can be considered a relatively young e-commerce platform, Aartzy has already gained international recognition. This was affirmed when it won the ‘Art Store of the Year’ award for the 2020/2021 period, offered by ‘The Corporate Livewire Canada Prestige Awards,’ recognizing small and medium-scale businesses in Canada for their success and impact.
It has been two and half years since the initiation of Aartzy and it has been able to carry out operations using an online platform successfully for one and half years.
With this recognition, many internationally based artists have approached Aartzy to display their artwork. While they are accommodated on the e-commerce platform, Perera stated that they like to give priority to Sri Lankan-based artists who can greatly benefit by signing in. He also stated that “engaging in their respective crafts and improving their artwork should be the responsibility of the artists. Selling and marketing should be left to professionals who can do a more successful job in this process.”
When asked how an artist can become a part of this network and benefit from all its perks, he said, “It is quite a simple process accessible through the website www.aartzy.com. Initial contact has to be made by the seller of artwork. Sellers can register using the website, drop an email, or send a WhatsApp message to the contact details shared. Then an Aartzy representative will contact the artist, explain the procedures, and sign a contract, protecting the interests of both the artist and the organization.”
Many internationally based artists have approached Aartzy to display their artwork.
“Afterwards, the artist is supposed to share a simple bio about themselves, a few good photographs of the artwork, their sizes, and the medium used. With this information, Aartzy continues the processing, costing, and the entire marketing process,” Perera explained.
He said that they charge only 18% of the artwork as commission, which can either be added to the price or subtracted from the final amount. This is a highly profitable arrangement for artists — they receive the majority of the profits, unlike selling in galleries or on other platforms that usually demand a higher percentage.
Moreover, once registered with Aartzy, artists receive their own portfolio with all relevant information and artwork. This portfolio can be shared elsewhere to further improve digital presence and international identity.
The journey so far for Aartzy has been challenging, especially in the beginning when trying to get local artists on board. However, as a reliable and effective e-commerce platform oriented toward creating high-quality content and offering value additions to artists and customers alike, Aartzy has traveled a long and successful road. With roots firmly set within the local soil, the opportunities Aartzy provides for local artists are unlimited.
As Salvador Dali once said, “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” To create great art with inspirational quality, an artist must have time to practice and improve constantly. If an external entity is willing to handle the marketing and sales, artists can focus on producing art with imagination and depth. With timely initiatives like Aartzy, the days of artists struggling to sell their work on the streets can finally come to an end.
The complete article can be found at http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Aartzy-offers-futuristic-platform-for-artists/131-204340
-Sandaru Diwakara
