Prelude

Is the Sculpture Boom round the Corner?

Why devote one full issue to sculpture? After all, sculpture has always been the forte of the more seasoned collector, and it has never been easy for sculptures to find a surefire market in recent times.

The reasons actually are not far to seek. A cursory look at the global art market will make it evident that sculptures are back with a bang. I use the term 'back with a bang' very consciously. Because it is not always that a three-dimensional piece retains the price tag of the world's top selling piece of art even if it is for about five months.

The Indian contingent on the world map has Anish Kapoor leading from the front, with his mirrors still making people gape at the enormous potential of illusions on giant three dimensional masterpieces. Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher are commanding great prices at international auctions, while Somnath Hore became the first Bengali sculptor to command a staggering price of 157,250 GBP at an international auction with his Khanjani Players this year.

Actually, when sculpture sells, it proves that the market is rock solid. And standing on the precipice of 2011, one is happy to note that sculptures are no longer lacking in patrons.

That is reason enough to take a very close look at sculptures at this point of time. What is evident in the recent Art Fairs around the globe, sculptures and three-dimensional objects have come to grab people's fancy. Reports from museums and galleries do also bear out this fact. It seems that after the downturn sculptures and three-dimensional art have experienced a new lease of life. It is likely that sculptures may turn out to be the art form drawing maximum patrons, and we may get to hear the names of Anish Kapoor, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, Satish Gujral, Ravinder Reddy, Mira Mukherjee, Somnath Hore and many more.