Higgling & Haggling-The New Way to Art

The week-long Art Summit recently took place in Delhi, which saw people from all walks of life participating. Not only were there art patrons but also novices. But it was not these neophytes who created stir, rather it was the constant higgling and haggling at the art fair which stunned some and amused others.

Adam Smith in ‘Wealth of Nation’ has said that ‘market higgling and haggling predates the written history and  is the foundation of Capitalist economy’. Ever since, people have engaged in it and the situation today, in times of neo capitalism is no different, the 4^th edition of art summit being one such example.

 With the on-going change in the social dynamics of the society and the aspiration to compete has helped the art sector grow. But this has its own drawbacks- many people in that crowd lack knowledge and understanding of an art work. Sangeeta Murthy, artist, said “you might find people asking for a 50 percent discount, which is absurd. To support their argument they talk about the colors, the canvas etc. used, at times insulting the artist. They think by bargaining they’ll get it, but that’s not the case all the time.”

Sangeeta Murthy in her Art Studio. She draws inspiration from her family.

She added “most of them are people either with surplus money or new money, but at times they don’t know anything about art. However, there is one positive change. Earlier people invested in big names now people invest in Art. I believe this change has come because of the recession, because buying a big name/ brand would have been expensive and thus people shifted their focus to more affordable pieces.”

In today’s scenario almost every member of a family is working, taking a ‘class’ leap, then, why bargaining? To this she remarked that recession is to be blamed. She said bargaining happened even before, but it was little. Financial insecurity and neck-to-neck competition has forced people to indulge in higgling and haggling at a large scale.

Many artists and art galleries, whether willingly or not, have given in to the discount demands of the buyers. Some patrons others novice, some with the new money while others backed by inheritance, have continued the ancient old tradition to higgle and haggle. In this pursuit, people are driven by the sheer beauty of the art piece which would enhance and glorify their status in society. Though, at times bargaining is a difficult ordeal yet humans have mastered this art over the centuries. Be it for the house or office people bargain, bargain and finally buy. Art knowledge has taken a back seat as art pieces have now become a status symbol, even if it requires higgling-haggling.