The Art of Collecting Art

Buying art is akin to buying apparel— one may pick everything and anything one can get their hands on for irrelevant reasons such as the item was exceptionally affordable or did not look too bad for its price tag. If this is the approach one applies to artworks as well, they reach the same cul-de-sac as the unstoppable clothes-hoarder— a pile of things that cannot quite be used as they must be used. This is why one ought to pause and reflect on why they wish to bring artwork into their space. Contemplating the use of art helps one channel the purpose of acquiring it. One displays art because it speaks to them and they consider it an embodiment of their ideas and opinions about any subject matter. The purpose of displaying art is similar to the purpose of creating it— self-expression. When one realises this, they also understand why and how we separate merely buying art, from collecting it. 

The pieces on display in one’s space are reflective of who they are, so the collector ought to strategise-what it is they wish for spectators to see when they witness that particular piece. This is where the role of preliminary research is pivotal. One ought to keep a few things in mind such as art genre or movement preferences; theme or subject preferences; and most importantly the longevity of the entire exercise. 

The last factor remains the most crucial, one ought to understand that building a body of artworks is a matter of longterm commitment which beckons research and evaluation of the art market and global trends. The entire process may seem a little intimidating to begin with, but it accomplishes a lot with time— any piece in a particular collection appreciates in value not only of its own virtue but also because of its compeers. This is why curating a collection of artwork is tedious yet useful. Another outcome of careful curation is that the collector themselves gain insights into the kind of art they are curating. Their prudent research encourages knowledge-creation and curiosity among others. But to reach this level, every novice must first take expert advice from consultants in this field. It is only after gathering inside information, can one fruitfully decide, which artworks are worth their time, efforts and funds, and which ones are not. 

Collecting art via rigorous research gives one various opportunities such as:

-securing a financial investment;

-acquiring rare artworks;

-grasping which works of fine art are aesthetically stronger, which gives the collector a direction to this activity of collection building. The person opens up to new knowledge and in the process, their tastes and likings are refined, following which they can see themselves committing to this activity long-term. 

By finding the essence of the art collector within them, one can find the rhythm of their oeuvre and tie it all together harmoniously. But the essence of this activity alone is research.