Gone are the days when art and art galleries were the domain of the metropolitan cities of India. With the the BPO sector being the ‘in’ occupation in Hyderabad more people are willing to buy a painting than they were, say, five years ago. In the 1990’s, copy art works and replicas saw the light of the day but today a serene landscape hung on the wall must carry with it a name and signature style. Let alone the affluent, even a soul next door would want to know who is the artist when encountered with a painting. This is largely being seen as a good sign by the artistic fraternity.

Some time back teaching in fine art colleges and working as copy designers were the only two options for the young fine art graduates but today they can take heart and make it their livelihood, at least the more enterprising ones can. Says a city-based artist V.C.Harish, “Hyderabad is picking up with more people looking at art as an asset. Though people still focus on the craft of painting more than the art of it, I am happy they are beginning to appreciate good painters and their works.” He avers, “those who are not ardent art-lovers too are willing to understand art.” But he quips,“No one in this universe paints just to potray an idealogy be it communism or any ‘ism’. But yes, ‘pop art’ has set in , things have become more commercial.”

With people looking for alternative options for investment , the art scenario in Hyderabad is looking up. Says Athika Ahmed, director of Diara Center for Art and Culture ,“One can have something enhancing the look of a home and at the same time project himself as an intellectual. It is today , an unconventional form of investment. With the coming of IT sector in a big way, youngsters today have a higher income. And of course , the MNCs are looking to decorate their plush offices.” But with the middle class still busy with its staple form of investments, one wonders what art offers them. “ Paintings today have better resale value than gold. So, they are as liquid as any other asset. Paintings are almost akin to stocks today”, she opines. This is also why the stress is on the tag on the painting, today. “Name sells but not at the expense of a distinctive style”,asserts artist V.C. Harish, “Today, if I invest paintings of a premium artist, people must recognise his signature style ten years down the line or else what’s the point of it ?”

With a gay art scene like this one , it’s all quite hunky-dory for the galleries as they can now attract meaty business. Athika points out, “ There was a time when the city had just two art galleries and artists needed to go to Delhi and Mumbai - the art hubs, to exhibit their works. Well, when our gallery was launched there were six more galleries around and we would have just three shows per month.”Art finds buyers from various walks of life today. Speaking to indiatimes.com, avers painter Théodore Mesquita ,“ It is the money that always fuels the tangible aspects of art , but not the ideas or creative instincts behind.”But amidst such voracious commercial activity , the art-field has its share of fakes making hay while the sub shines. Opines freelance artist Rajinikanth, “ There are those wanting to ‘innovate’ before they even know the nuances of art and the lay people fall for it. There are those wanting to depict volcano but ask them to paint their coffee mugs on canvas , they won’t dare attempt it because then their colours would come out. In my opinion, that’s art today, unfortunately.”

As they say life imitates art and vice versa. So, may today art is just a reflection of the life today and vice versa. Art is faking it because society is faking it and vice versa. While a few fragments of the society keeps to its true life so does true art survive.