People are too busy to do routine tasks and one has to be an art enthusiast to have free time to visit an exhibition. As an art lover, even if you don't have time to go to different studios or art galleries, thankfully today, there are many online options which have evolved over the centuries. Online art galleries are the most popular and the latest platform for fine art browsing, auctioning, providing, and of course buying. For the present day art buyer, it is very exciting to look around online art galleries.
AARTZY
Aartzy is one of a kind online curated platform focusing on arts and crafts that showcases the talent of local and international artists where they benefit from the visibility garnered from international art buyers, which gives them the opportunity to sell their work.
They are keen on areas such as paintings, photography and sculpture, in multiple genres where the work of artists is displayed, with the main focus on representing featured artists creating opportunities to get international recognition for their work.
Being a passionate art lover, Janaka Perera, the founder of the Aartzy online platform, stepped into the art sphere purely by chance.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer, he recalled the first incident that stimulated the need of building the Aartzy platform.
"I was trying to buy a painting as a gift, and came across several artists who were clearly struggling to sell their work without any knowledge about technology, new trends or sales strategies. Although these artists were supremely talented, this limitation resulted in them depending on the buyers coming to them."
Thereafter, he researched online local art market and learnt that there is a huge void locally.
Having more than two decades of corporate experience in multiple multinational companies, it did not take long for him to realize the need for a similar platform in Sri Lanka to take our own art and artists to the global market.
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
To start from scratch is never an easy task. Having very limited encounters with local artists in person, he visited many artists personally, introducing his objectives to them. As always, initially, there was resistance and rejections.
"You need a thick skin if you want to build something unique. However, gradually when they got to know our genuine objectives, they accepted me and Aartzy with open arms. I have a bit of a soft corner towards the initial bunch of artists who trusted me and Aartzy," Janaka said.
As Janaka explains, the curation process of Aartzy is very liberal and respected any of the artists' professional work and their freedom of expression. "The doors are open for emerging artists who create modest work," Janaka said.
A GROWING SECTOR
Although online galleries are a new concept in Sri Lanka, the global situation is quite different. Globally, this has been one of the fastest-growing sectors. The total global art market is valued at $64 billion (Art Basel Annual Report), and the online sales of art alone reached $900 million in 2019 — with a growth rate of over 20% each year. This clearly shows that online platforms are the best option for both emerging and experienced artists.
Anywhere in the world, the biggest challenge for an artist is to sell their creations. While artists may be willing to suffer for their art, the market must also recognize their value — otherwise, the joy of creating fades when selling becomes a struggle.
FINANCIAL FREEDOM
"We need to make sure artists spend their time creating art and not worrying about secondary issues such as promoting or selling their work. Also, creators should have the freedom to express their thoughts in their own styles. However, the current market in Sri Lanka does not allow this freedom — most galleries influence artists to adopt specific styles, which prevents them from creating true masterpieces. We intend to change this.
Artists need to be financially stable to be creatively free. Our goal is to help them achieve both. We do not charge any fees or commissions for our services. Instead, we discuss different options with each artist and agree on the most suitable strategy for them," Janaka said.
The beauty of online art galleries is that there are no geographical boundaries. This openness provides equal opportunity for every artist to showcase their creativity to the entire world.
Unlike most countries, Sri Lankan art is not widely available online. Therefore, art lovers looking specifically to buy Sri Lankan art have very few options. With a large Sri Lankan expatriate community longing for a piece of home, this gap limits a huge potential market.
"Aartzy has also recognized a significant international market for Sri Lankan arts and crafts beyond the expat community. The United States and the United Kingdom — two of the largest art markets — have shown great appreciation for Sri Lankan traditional art, known for its heritage and quality. Apart from paintings, Sri Lanka is celebrated for its traditional crafts such as masks, sculptures, handlooms, and pottery. Aartzy strives to expand our portfolio while maintaining Sri Lanka’s unique identity," Janaka added.
LATEST TRENDS
Speaking about the latest trends in the art world, Janaka mentioned that Abstract Art has become highly sought after in the decade starting from 2020, similar to how figurative art dominated the 2010s. Experts believe the art world is now leaning toward more spiritual and transcendent experiences.
Janaka believes it’s time to embrace abstraction again. More young and emerging artists are moving toward abstract art, and even established contemporary artists are adopting it for the creative freedom it provides. "Modern art is another style gaining popularity — modern artists tend to ignore traditional logic and adopt experimental approaches, giving them the creative liberty that today’s art world celebrates," he said.
ART IN THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult period for artists and the art market. Sales dropped significantly due to global restrictions. Many professional artists struggled to maintain their livelihoods during this time.
However, while many traditional art galleries had to close, online galleries such as Aartzy experienced the opposite effect. The pandemic opened up new opportunities that may never have been explored otherwise.
"We also have our physical gallery, Gallery FourLife — a partnership venture with Aartzy — which had to close during the lockdown. But our online presence continued without interruption. Our sincere hope is that things will return to normal, so artists can keep creating beautiful works while we help them reach a global audience," Janaka said.
To wrap up the conversation, Janaka added, "The artists are the most valuable assets we have. Our mission is to create, enhance, and safeguard their identities. My wish is to see our artists evolve, gain better public exposure, and feature in major collections — both locally and internationally."
I have always been an art lover; helping those who create art gives me great pleasure. We do not have institutions dedicated to helping artists grow their careers and achieve financial independence. Through Aartzy, I hope to change that.
The complete article can be found at:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2020/08/16/montage/share-your-art-global-audience-new-ways
