Written By: Amy Poliakoff, co-star of BRAVO’s “Gallery Girls”
The Contemporary art market is currently exploding and reaching oversaturation. Most recent sales prices have gone up millions due to the new art form of digital art. Because the art market has become so saturated and explosive, collectors are looking for entrance into the next wave before it crests.
Art collector Nitin Gambhir has isolated three keys in acquiring the perfect collection. The artists creativity in creating an original one-of-a-kind work of art, how much energy whether mental or physical is put into the work itself, and understanding an artist’s growth, where they came from, and how their technique and how their work has changed and evolved are what Gambhir says are three important factors for those collecting art.
While Jackson Pollack, Basquiat, or Warhol are legendary artist names, the collector today has moved into forming collections of transformative art. A savvy collector or curator today will want to put together a transformative collection. This means art pieces should evoke a social or transitional change moving people into an evolving sets of beliefs.
Nitin Gambhir, founder of Tethys Art has a passion and commitment to bringing transformative art to the world. Nitin Gambhir along with his team have created a new platform that changes the inherent nature we analyze and systematically examine art today.
“Along with transformative art a major focus for me and Tethys art is to trace the linkage across time and genres to find how various genres of art spanning both style and time are connected to each other. So for us Tethys art focuses on not only Transformative art but explorations across genres,” said Founder, Nitin Gambhir.
Tethys art presented its first short form curation. A VIP reception of 150 invited kicked off this summer, June 12th in South Hampton. Their inaugural show, “From Keith Haring to the Screen Generation. A perspective” is an exploration of two new concepts in the established and academic art world. Starting a dialogue about the connection between street art and digital art, the show aims to examine the evolution and co-existence of digital and physical art. Breaking barriers, Gambhir and his team, through the Tethys platform, have brought an exhibition featuring Fawn Rogers, Richard Prince, Pearlyn Lii, Pieter Schoolwerth, and Elisa Swopes to not only the art community but those who seek to learn.
The exhibition, featuring one to three works by each artist illustrates interwoven themes of the social influence of 21st century technology. What separates this opening show from other gallery exhibitions is the central dialogue created using the common thread that each artist touches on the internet, social media, or technological influence that merge past and present society and propel us into the digital age and how that evolution came to exist.
Through the 17 carefully curated works, the exhibition goes beyond that of just displaying art. It gives a historical context on a 30-year history of how we got to the world of digital art and NFT’s.
In the art market today, NFT’s also known as Non-Fungible Tokens, have become the hottest selling ticket. With the rise of digital art, NFT’s are selling at record prices. Famed digital artist, Beeple sold his “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” for 69 million dollars. Ownership of NFT’s or digital assets are recorded on a digital ledger called a blockchain. NFT’s are a unique piece of art unlike bitcoins which may be transferred for another, NFT’s are unique. They are digital assets that are not interchangeable.
Through Covid 19, the world has engaged through zoom meetings and a new digital world. Instagram and Facebook are our new way of connecting socially. Humans are consumed with the computer screen. The digital revolution has taken over. In artist Pearlyn Lii’s work there is an exploration of virtual vs human interaction explored. In Tethys inaugural exhibition Lii’s NFT called “Real Girlfriend”. is a virtual character whose mesmerizing and engaging presence captivates the viewer to feel a realistic sense of sensual engagement. Looking at this work we clearly examine our personal relationships and question the very nature of human connection through the virtual reality.
All the artists exhibited explore this very notion of the virtual realm. Richard Prince’s work on view priced at $150,000 is an excellent example of how this exhibition examines the boundaries between physical and virtual reality. Prince, ahead of his time, understood in the creation of his series, the very notion that the persona you present on Instagram, a social media platform, is larger than life because of the comments and views one can receive. Prince comments on Instagram photographs then screen-grabs them and prints them to become works of art. His work highlights the ease in which we have a narcissistic need in society to unveil our privacy. His “New Portrait” series creates a direct connection with the everyday man by allowing for the invisible public of Instagram to transform to a more tangible public audience.
For a new collector it is clear that every great art movement undergoes a period of critical discussion before social acceptance catapults it into a higher accepted awareness. With the rise of digital art and NFT’s we are seeing the launch of a new genre of acceptance. Tethys art recognizes this achievement and for its first short form show has given the world an in depth look at a new movement.
Tethys art will maintain its 71 Hill Street South Hampton location but already has plans to showcase its second short form show. Each show will have a different theme and programming. Weekly discussions and talks with invited curators and art world professionals will take place as well. Next week, a discussion on NFT’s and the digital art world will be followed by a cocktail reception. Aspen and Cannes are two upcoming locations where Tethys art will present their platform of transformative art.
Nitin Gambhir works closely with his co-founder Elena Ulansky. Ulansky, an artist herself, has a commitment to working closely with emerging artists. In addition, Ludovica Capobianco who serves as director of operations and on the curatorial board has extensive experience curating exhibitions with various entities from galleries to institutions to art fairs. Indira Cesarine, also a member of the curatorial board and director of strategy, is founder of The Untitled Space Gallery and publisher of Untitled Magazine. With a valuable team committed to the arts, Tethys aims to showcase groundbreaking art and bring together artists, art lovers, collectors and curators, to bring the quality of the New York art world to prime locations worldwide throughout the year.
With an eye for understanding what transcends the very definition of the ordinary artist, Gambhir can navigate the art market to pinpoint artists who are perfect for collecting. Gambhir has created a carefully curated platform that is a new, educational and an innovative approach for any collector looking into works that foster a social critique.
ABOUT AMY: Originally from Coral Gables, Florida, Amy Poliakoff studied Communications and Art History at the University of Miami and currently lives in Manhattan. With vast gallery experience under her belt already, Amy has held positions with the Wolfsonian Museum, the David Zwirner Gallery, the Paul Kasmin Gallery, and the Leila Heller Gallery.
