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My Life
Tushar Sethi, Director, Institute of Indian Contemporary Art and multi-business entrepreneur, has established for himself a prominent status in the Indian art imaginary. Founding theartstrust.com, a popular online trading platform for art and astaguru.com which enables online art auctioneering, Sethi has helped create a defining presence for Indian contemporary art on the world stage
The art bug was smitten at an early age…
I have grown up with art around me as my father collected art works and also promoted art. So, when I saw a gap in the market, I seized the opportunity and joined the field to explore the same. And to top it all, I love art and love what I do. Eight years ago, I wanted to start an art fund and saw a lot of potential in this market, but was told that it was a new business and it would be a difficult market to explore. So, I started the art portal two years later and since then; there has been no looking back.
The beginning
When I joined the business, the art market was picking up; I started theartstrust.com as an online portal to sell art in the secondary market which took off, given the huge demand at that time. The viewers at the exhibitions have increased tremendously in the last five years, as general awareness and interest in Indian contemporary art has developed over the years. So, we moved ahead and the next step was to set up a gallery and ICIA came into being; it is one of India’s biggest grass root gallery spread over three floors showing both, modern and contemporary art. I also then realised that paintings were moving very fast and one could start an auction house to see how people would react over top quality works and how bidding will take place. A year later, I started AstaGuru and now, we have conducted three auctions. It has been a great learning experience and lots of fun.
A typical day
I wake up at 9:00 and am ready by 10:30. I watch the news and eat breakfast with the family and by 11, I am at work. The first half of my day goes with the back office where I look into the legal accounts and the software departments. I have lunch between 1.30 -2:00 and after that, I go to the gallery where I meet people by appointments only. I am at the gallery till 7 after which I have a personal trainer who keeps me fit, three times a week. I work out regularly and also do yoga three times a week.
The road ahead
My work is mostly dealing with people and I am a people’s person, so I enjoy what I do. I don’t think there is anything difficult in life as long as you enjoy it. Understanding what is good and bad art is something that requires a trained eye and I think I am blessed with that. I, in the future, harbour a desire to grow the auction house, selling other products as well. I also plan on starting an art fund when the time is right.
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