For Sanjay Agarwal, a software professional, painting is a hobby. This self-taught painter says half seriously: "The Internet is my guru now. Earlier there were hardly any sites on the Indian art. But now, I get so much information online, including on modern art."

Satish Parekh, an active member of the Indian Art Circle forum, has been learning painting from a young age, The Web, he says, provides students and connoisseurs a platform to discuss, debate and learn more about Indian art.

For connoisseurs, virtual art galleries are a happy hunting ground. Saffronart.com showcases and sells a wide range of works from contemporary Indian artists, while IndiaArtCircle.com sells a collection of contemporary art, folk and tribal art works and handcrafted collectibles.

In this interview, Minal Vazirani, founder of Saffronart.com describes the site as a place "where we could really consolidate or to some extent bring together on a common platform artists, galleries and anyone feeding into this system."

Buying art works online has its advantages. Offline galleries, for one, can display only a limited number of works. Virtual galleries, on the other hand, are available anywhere, anytime.

Explains Gargi Seth, COO of Indian Art Circle: "You can stock (virtually) an endless number of works. The uninterrupted browsing that a buyer can do on the site, based on artists, price range, media and style affords a lot of satisfaction to the customer."

Besides, the Web is not constrained by geography. "The Net offers an opportunity to tap the vast market of Indians and others abroad who want to buy Indian art - perhaps as beginners - but did not know whom to turn to," says Almona Bhatia who conceptualised Indiaartmart.com. The site exclusively deals with contemporary Indian art, old prints, maps, etchings, lithos and paintings. Along with Ravi Verma's oleographs and original Kalighat paintings, indiaartmart.com also features works of young and well-known painters.

Site owners reveal that more NRIs and foreigners buy Indian art works than Indians themselves. Says Bhatia, "NRIs usually like to buy Indian art because they associate art with their roots. We have had orders from all over the world - the Gulf, the US, Britain and India. People from as far as South Korea and Sweden have contacted us."
Shares Seth, "Among NRIs and foreigners, we find a higher interest from the US, Britain (London), and Spain and among resident Indians, people from Bombay and Bangalore have been more avid shoppers. Curiously we have made very few sales in Delhi where we are based!"

Though artist M F Hussain once declared in a poster that galleries had become irrelevant, not all site owners are ready to dismiss the gallery experience as lightly. Many of them insist that sales are just a small part of their site. Says Arun Vadehra of Vadehra Art Gallery: "The site is very important, but for me, it is just another instrument for effective communication."

Shirin Gandhy of Gallery Chemould, a partner gallery to Saffronart.com, agrees that while the site is an important tool through which she has received a lot of positive response, she does not depend on it to sell art.

Despite the ambivalence these galleries display towards online endeavours, they continue to invest money in art portals. "My business is all about relationship-building," explains Vadhera, who deals in the works of leading artists. "Less than 10 per cent of the buyers online are new, and they are treated as new links in the relationship. I use the site to keep my clients informed about the latest in art."

Artist A Ramachandran says that the creative expression can never be replicated through the Web or any other medium. "Exhibitions will continue to be important for genuine collectors and connoisseurs," he asserts. Painter Arpita Singh adds: "In a show, an artist is also making a statement."

For the Art Lover -- Art Talk -- Arts of Asia -- Art India -- Indian Art Gallery -- Lalit Kala -- More... Additional Resources: For those who are keen on pursuing art as a career, Saffronart.com has details about colleges that offer art courses in India and abroad. It also lists well-known art museums and virtual galleries for people interested in browsing art.

Also Read: -- Looking for Art? -- What Art Thou? -- The Net is redefining art -- Local art, global mart

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