Kozhikode to host State’s first art auction market

Chitralela Chantha is being held for over six weeks from Feb. 9

Kozhikode will host an art auction in February, probably the first in the State.

The Chitralela Chantha (art auction market) is being organised by the Kozhikode-based Gurukulam Art Village, a collective of artists, over six weeks from February 9 at the now defunct parking area of Arya Bhavan Hotel on S.M.Street.

Inspiration

The organisers are apparently inspired by similar auctions in Bengaluru and find it a viable way to form a link between artists and prospective art buyers.

“The home decoration trends are changing in Kerala. Our market is much more open to art than ten years ago. We need to explore it for the sake of our artists,” says Gurukulam Babu, director of the art village.

People visiting the art gallery in Kozhikode rarely purchase anything, even if they are good connoisseurs. On the other hand, people who build new houses often make do with prints of art works for their interiors, he says.

“We need to create awareness on the need to purchase art instead of the prints. They are way different from each other,” Mr.Babu says.

The auction will be held every second and fourth Saturdays of a month for three months.

Price range

It will feature art works in the price range of ₹500 to ₹2 lakh. “It will not be a wayside auction. Each artist will have stalls where they can display their works and sell it at their own prices,” he says.

Interested artists shall contact Mr.Babu on 9446055946 to register before January 31. The village has decided to donate 10% of the proceeds to brilliant students in higher secondary schools from poor financial background, Mr.Babu said.