Talent and content to play differentiator: Lubna Sen

New Delhi, July 2 Ahead of her digital exhibition of art created during the lockdown, as an ode to the unrestrained creative spirit of artists, senior art curator Lubna Sen says the art world must increasingly re-calibrate to embrace the digital world and feels "this is the best time to make a difference to art and artists".

Founder of The Art Route, which had organised 'Confluence - Celebrating India-Bangladesh Printmaking' to promote the obscure medium in January this year, Sen has independently curated culturally-significant projects with culture bodies of repute, and is a prominent voice in India's art spaces.

Her latest exhibition 'The Spirit Remains Unlocked', comes on the heels of an art project that began on the first day of the lockdown and will showcase finished works by 30 artists who stayed locked-down in word, but unlocked in spirit, all this while.

Excerpts from Sen's interview to life:

Speaking from your experience as an art world insider, what are the finer nuances of the COVID-19 hit on the art world?

Sen: The lockdown is probably giving an ideal working atmosphere for most of the artists who like to reflect and create. But art production and art market are two different things. The immediate cascading effect of the economic downturn is already being faced by the emerging artists. Not just in sales, which have obviously taken a hit - but also in the opportunities to showcase their works. Physical events like art exhibitions, workshops and residencies are the places where artists get noticed, mentored and groomed. This is the time when they need maximum support from the art world.

For the galleries, the economics of the business is at stake. The maintenance of physical space is the most important cost in the gallery business. Since this downturn is going to stay for long, this is a matter of a strategic business decision for them. Those with deep pockets and a long term commitment to the business

( With inputs from IANS )