The young at art

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">New collectors on the scene: hip, arty and rich</span><br /><br />There was a time when buying art was the prerogative of the privileged few. But now, bigger incomes which allow more and more younger people to buy luxuries and the good things in life, are allowing them to collect works of art as well.<br /><br />Young graphic designer Rachna Gopinath believes you''ve got to love art to be a serious buyer."Earlier, I would visit galleries maybe once in six months. Now, I have become more serious about collecting art. I keep in touch with what''s available and attend art previews."<br /><br />Since the Gopinaths'' flat has contemporary interiors, they prefer buying abstracts that blend with the ambience.<br /><br />Art aficionado Raj Dutt finds that the young Bangalore buyer is curious, but a bit hesitant and cautious. "He can be diffident and very circumspect. He does not go overboard with his money, unlike young buyers in Mumbai." Dutt says that young people go in for pretty paintings which are inexpensive. "They come with preconceived notions but we welcome questions. They want to know what an etching or a lithograph is and that''s a good sign. If art connoisseurs and gallery owners can answer their queries, that certainly is promotion of art."<br /><br />Agrees Suresh Jayaram, principal of a leading art college, "The young buyer does not take risks and will not buy avant-garde art. He won''t check out the art colleges and buy works of students."<br /><br />Twenty-seven-year-old Rakesh Rekhi who works in an ad agency has a keen eye for art. "No particular genre appeals to me. If it looks nice, attracts me spontaneously and is affordable, I might buy it," he says. Rakesh describes himself as a ''flea market art shopper.'' He would buy good value-for-money art or the works of upcoming artists.<br /><br />Artist Gurudas Shenoy has noticed that more young people attend art previews and visit galleries now than ever before. "I am sure hordes of youngsters will buy art in the next two years or so. The trend of youngsters picking up art is still in its nascent stage in Bangalore," he says. <br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">cavalesangeeta@indiatimes.com</span></div> </div>