Durva Gandhi is quiet and poised, with a bubble of excitement that uncannily suits her quiet personality. In the city for the launch of her book Secret of The Art Millionaires, the Mumbai-based art collector-turned-author speaks to City Express in a quick chat about her book, her passion for art and why investing in art is a smart thing to do.
You have been collecting art for more than a decade. Was the book a natural progression in your career?
Absolutely. I’ve had people who come up to ask me about the sort of art they should be buying. Others just go ahead and buy art without any kind of research or forethought. There is all this knowledge about the tricks of collecting art and it is known only to a select few who are in the business. It got me thinking — if you are really interested in buying art, you need to know the trade. That’s why I felt it would be a good idea to write this book.
What sort of tips does the book give?
Essentially, the book is divided into three categories. The first addresses the institutions — galleries, gallery owners and such. It tells them how to benefit their gallery, their institution when buying art. The second category addresses the buyers, investors and collectors and gives them advice on how best to secure their hand when it comes to buying art. The third, of course, reaches out to the artists and creators themselves, the sellers. All these sections cover various topics such as how to make money, how to market their art and so on.
Several art enthusiasts say that selling art to investors is not necessarily a good thing and that it is unfavourable for the collectors. What is your take on it?
I would say investment in art is a very good thing to do, if you’re clever about it. Some people buy art for the sake of art, some buy it because they love it. Others buy it because it is a good business opportunity. Logically, art is a great thing to invest in because of the returns.
What would you classify yourself as — an investor or a collector?
When I ventured into the art world, I started out as a patron. I was very naive actually. I learnt a lot along the way and then I realised, you buy art to earn — whether it is for money or satisfaction. You buy the art, you have to live with it. Most informed people would have two separate collections — a personal collection that they would cherish for a long time and another collection that they can buy and sell. I guess I am a bit of both.
What would you tell young collectors who are just starting out?
Art has always been about passion, about motivation. You can be a philanthropist buying art or someone looking to invest in it. Or it could even be a lifestyle statement. But at the end of the day it is the love of art that must drive you.