What elements go into deciding the value of a work of art?
There is just one element — history. About 30 parameters make up historical significance: the artist’s originality, how his unique creation influenced the art world, how he was viewed by his peers, how many critics wrote of his work, the shows he was part of, whether his unique quality was recognised at the time or later, what kind of collectors bought his work, among others. (If Ebrahim Alkazi saw some work it means much more than some Johnny on the street seeing it.) The most important thing is the work itself. Do auction houses recognise that some artists are not recognised? That is what we do. Osian’s has introduced 58 percent of all Indian artists to the art world, artists who have an auction market today. I have introduced them. No one wanted a Biren De, Chittaprosad or Souza. Critics may have acknowledged them, but critical acclaim is totally different from financial acclaim. In every auction of ours, 40 percent of works are those of artists who deserve to be recognised, who are
