'Artists create because they need to create'

Running the annual Glenfiddich Artists-In-Residence programme since its inception in 2002, its Scottish global curator Andy Fairgrieve feels Indian art has scope to expand into more experimental media.

During his eighth visit here to announce India representative to the 18-year-old art residency, the mentor shared his vision of art and what makes artists brave.

Since 2012, the residency in Scotland's Dufftown has hosted at least one Indian artist. Selected as 'Emerging Artist of the Year', he/she is awarded Rs 10 lakh along with a three-month residency in Scotland.

Apart from being the alcohol brand Glenfiddich's residency's sole organiser and curator, Fairgrieve was also a part of the selecting jury for the India participant. He likes artists with a strong signature style and consistency.

Known for liking 'ludicrous and absurd' art, the 57-year-old curator feels "art should stir some emotion". "It's not just cooking up any picture. It should make you feel something. One of my favourite emotions is humour and when something is quite ludicrous or ridiculous, I find it amusing," Fairgrieve said.

After being involved with music, which he says is a "different style of creativity" and which allowed him to produce posters for concerts and artworks for record covers, Fairgrieve gradually lost touch with painting, but enjoys photography.

On quality art, he said, "Very often, in a gallery, someone comes up and says, 'I could've done that', but saying it is easy. Someone else has already done it.

"Photography is a good example. Everyone has a camera on their phone, everyone is on Instagram. Actually, photography is not easy. You've to get the composition, the subject, the lighting right. Everyone can take a photograph, but only a good artist can take a good photograph. When you see quality, you know it."

On the Indian art market, Fairgrieve said Indians are revisiting art as a proper job. "It is being seen like a real job that can be taken on hard, economic terms," he said.

"But art is still biased towards painting and sculpture. I'd love to see more digital art, video art, performance sell, installations -- basically stuff you can't sell. Indian art can expand its growth from conventional media to more experimental and innovative styles," he suggested.

A jury with Fairgrieve and other art stakeholders last week selected Baroda-based artist Raju Baraiya for its 2019 edition, which kicks off this summer.