Indian artists find innovative uses for social networking sites. DNA checks out some profiles to find what exactly the art fraternity is up to, on the World Wide Web.
The Indian art fraternity is hooked onto social networking websites like Facebook and has taken furiously to blogging. Some like artist Chintan Upadhyay had built a keen interest on his art project Khatti Mithi on Facebook almost a month before its actual opening.
Chintan explains, “For a whole month I uploaded the entire process of making the art project. I would upload the text of the research that I have done and also uploaded a few sketched, unfinished images. So people knew exactly what is happening with my project.
And in this way I campaigned and publicised my show on the internet.” Chintan explains that coinciding with the actual opening, he uploaded pictures of the final product which got great responses. “In fact so many people even responded from overseas,” he says.
While Chintan managed to create a buzz for his art show online, young artist Vidha Saumya had an opening of her show on Facebook. “The idea came, out of frustration of not being able to get to show my works in any of the art galleries,” confesses Vidha.
She continues, “I had a series of portraits that I had made and so I decided that I will have an opening of my show online itself, which doesn’t include any cost and people from all walks of life will be able to see my works. So I spread the buzz and at a fixed date and time, I uploaded images on Facebook. Between images, I put in wine glasses, cakes and other goodies so it was an opening on the virtual world.”
Though, many friends joked about her unusual strategy initially, Vidha is extremely happy with the response she got on the web. “The response was awesome. I had done many portraits when I was in Pakistan and I got responses from Pakistan as well,” she smiles.
A step further is Neil Dantas who has set up his business on Facebook. A graphic designer by profession, Neil uploads new graphics on his profile and his blog on a regular basis and sells them through the internet. “I pick up different socio-political issue and make graphics on the same, which can be reproduced. We are a group and we call ourselves ‘The Doers’. Facebook is a great tool to meet and interact with people and also make your talent seen.”
Artist Ali Akbar Mehta however is a little skeptical of uploading his art works online. “It’s a public forum and there are no regulations against copying. Though, once people get to know my works better I will consider it.”
PAYING IT FORWARDChintan Upadhyay is currently planning to begin an art space on the web where he wants to promote new and young artists.
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