The art market is a strange animal

CHENNAI: Chennai-based author V Sanjay Kumar’s novel, in its jacket, says that when he stumbled into the art world, he allowed art to empty his pockets and artists to mess his mind. And that his first book, Artist, Undone, is “sweet revenge”. It is not something to be taken seriously, it is more “tongue-in-cheek”, says Sanjay. And that is not the only thing that is “tongue-in-cheek”. Forget the book which maintains a facetious tone from the word Go, the author’s conversation too is laced with wit. Sanjay’s book traces the story of a man, who, because of a mid-life crisis, wants to do something reckless. He comes across an expensive painting that reminds him too much of himself and purchases it on a whim. At the same time, he also decides that he wants a sabbatical from work. And when he breaks the news to his family, his personal life collapses fully. “The man wants to sell the painting – get rid of it. And in the process, he gets to know the art market at a deep level,” Sanjay sums up the rest of the story. His protagonist is just one example of the different ways in which different people enter the art market. “The book examines how art and artists impact people’s lives,” he explains. Sanjay has maintained an undertone of humour consistently in the book. “The idea is to not get too serious, because writing about art is too serious, and at the same time, I’ve told all that I have wanted to,” he says. According to him, art by itself is hardly understood and appreciated, and the art market is an even more confusing area - a strange animal. “I’ve used the art market as a canvas on top of which I’ve written my story. Art is only part of the narrative, otherwise, it is a novel,” Sanjay explains. He assures that the book will appeal to someone who doesn’t understand art as much as it will to an expert. But the expert will be able to see and enjoy an additional dimension in it, he adds, “Factual elements in the book are few and far between. But it has been woven in a way that it will work for someone who is new to art. But for someone who understands the art market, it adds an additional dimension.” For a debut novelist, Sanjay has not hesitated to take a bold step. Sex and sexuality have been looked at in an open manner and the language he has used is strong. Sanjay provides an explanation, “The art world has affected me a lot in the last 20 years. I’ve met many artists who have changed me in many ways,” he says. “They all live their lives in your face and on-the-edge. This is the kind of feeling that I wanted to bring about in the book.”