A recent Artsy article highlighted that the number of art spaces within India is on the rise, up and down the country; the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) has launched in Mumbai. In Karnataka, Hampi Art Labs is due to open soon, as is the Brij Museum New Delhi.
Our experts have also noted recently that the market is also expanding into areas like Bihar and Indore, places that aren’t always front and center when it comes to art in India.
The 15th edition of the India Art Fair, which ran from February 1st-4th at NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi was the largest yet with more than 100 exhibitors from across the region and the world. And as India’s economy continues its rapid growth, and with the number of high-net-worth individuals predicted to double in the coming few years, the art market is set to flourish in the years ahead.
But for art to truly boom in India, it needs to move from A to B to C. This is where expert handling is going to be critical to artists, collectors, museums and other industry stakeholders if they’re to seize the opportunities that lay before them.
Good logistics underpins the success of any industry or market. Whether it’s getting perishable, consumable goods to point of sale quickly and well within their best-before date, or ensuring car parts arrive at factories at the optimal time for production line assembly, how things move, where they’re stored, the way they’re preserved and how quickly they arrive, can be the difference between commercial success, or failure.
The logistics of art are largely the same, except it requires additional layers of quality control and care. It also demands passion and expertise.
Art needs to be stored when it’s not on display; that requires secure warehouses that won’t cause pieces to degrade.
Artworks must be moved from gallery to buyer, exhibition to storage, storage to auction house; this necessitates careful, diligent handling at every step of the process – precious, precious cargo.
Fine art needs to be installed at the point of display; this requires attention to detail, consideration for lighting, room temperature and more.
There is an increasing requirement, too, for all of these steps to be undertaken sustainably, too.
But without this, a market can’t begin to flourish. Good logistics facilitates the display, it protects pieces from damage, it provides security, and offers preservation.
To truly realize its ambitions, India’s art market stakeholders will be reliant on the expertise of art logistics organizations, that help deliver art from A to B.
Crown Fine Art, with nearly 60 years of experience and expertise in the art logistics field, offers storage, packaging, transportation, and installation services in India.
We have been moving art around the world for decades, and currently have significant operations in London and the UAE, where we play a crucial role, working with museums, galleries, and private collectors.
Our specialized fine art facilities in Mumbai and New Delhi come equipped with a customized specialist racking system in climate-controlled storage spaces with 24/7 CCTV monitoring and ultra-modern fire suppression systems and protocols.
We have the passion, experience and tools to play a significant role in India’s prospering art market, working with private collectors and exhibitors to capitalize on the growing opportunities that this region presents.
