Combining culture with commerce, Bhubaneswarbased bankerturnedart collector Arun Kumar Bera has been scripting an inspiring success story as an entrepreneur while demystifying the belief that there is no market for modern art in Odisha.
Barely two years ago, when Arun decided to set up the Gallery Artist Mindz in Bhubaneswar, many frowned at him. “It is a small city and there is no market for modern art in Odisha for which there is just one art gallery in Bhubaneswar so far. Better to explore bigger cities,” he was cautioned. “But, I was optimistic. I believed in the taste of the people of this artistic city and state that has several beautiful temples besides a number of rich art traditions of the State. I amhappy and proud that my belief was proved true”, smiles the gallery director who has sold at least eight works of M.F.Hussain to eminent art collectors of the city in just two years. He currently has works of S.H.Raza, Jamini Roy and F.N.Souza and several eminent Indian painters in his collection.
“I have also set up art galleries of the same name in Mumbai and Kolkata, but I have Bhubaneswar as my headquarters because of the amazing degree of interest in buyers, collectors and connoisseurs of contemporary art here,” he confesses . Born and brought up in Kolkata, Arun had an accidental entry into arttrade. “As a banker, I was an international traveller. While abroad, I would read about auctions of Indian art abroad at some galleries. Curious, I went to visit some of those galleries in France, Egypt, London and Dubai during my tours. While the interest in Indian art there made me proud as an Indian, I wondered why such auctions were not happening in our country.
This paved my path into art collection and trade”, discloses who quit his job in the banking six years ago and turned into a successful entrepreneur.
Before setting up his art gallery, Arun visited a number of art galleries in Indian and abroad to have a sound idea about its concept, design and management. “I received the best of advice and guidance from eminent art connoisseur and promoter Pheroza Godrej in Mumbai for which I set up my gallery in Mumbai. If I moved to Odisha, it was BECAUSE OF wellknown politician and industrialist Dilip Ray who I met AT an art event in Mumbai.
He is a great connoisseur of contemporary art and he helped me to settle down in Bhubaneswar with my gallery,” acknowledges the emerging art entrepreneur.
Does one need huge money to get into arttrade? “Not at all. More than money, one needs a mind. That is why I have named my gallery as Artist Mindz. Though many gave me a depressing impression about Odisha’s art market, I applied my mind and examined it myself. I realized that if I can bring quality art to Bhubaneswar, it would sell. And that is happening,” the art collector explains.
But, how does it help the local artists? “The world has become a smaller place today and talents in all fields have to compete at the global level. For an art collector or buyer, what matters most is the quality of the art.
Hence, our own talents have to take up this challenge. Through my gallery and the six exhibitions that I have mounted so far, I am trying to sensitise artists about the latest trends in art at the national and international levels. I think, my gallery has given the local artists and art lovers a big exposure,” he reasons.
“I have a number of plans for my gallery to bring in a bigger change in Odisha’s art scene. I will host an international artists’ camp at Puri this year that, I believe, would boost the art scene here,” reveals 40 yearold Arun .