Artists’ grouse: We are a neglected lot in Gujarat

Artists from Ahmedabad and Vadodara feel they are a neglected lot in terms of getting the right exposure through galleries and the media in Gujarat. They expressed their feelings at a gathering at Vishala restaurant on Saturday evening.

However, a retired businessman from Mumbai, Ravi Mardia, said that the artists need to go out if they need exposure. "Launching a nationwide movement to promote the best quality works of Gujarat's artists is the need of the hour. But for one reason or the other, the artists here are not open enough about their works or themselves. This perhaps is the biggest hindrance in their growth,'' said Mardia.

Mardia owns an online art promotion gallery named ICAC. He is very serious about promoting Gujarat artists nationally.Senior artist Kanu Patel said that artists in Gujarat lack professionalism and are not extrovert enough. "This is the age of marketing and artists must do it themselves,'' he said.

Some of those present at the gathering suggested that there should be a good knowledgeable critic for the works produced by the artists in Gujarat. It was also suggested that a magazine in art should be brought out by the artist fraternity.