Portrait of HH Maharani Sanyogitaraje Holkar by Boutet de MonvelNon-fungible tokens, also known as NFT, are the latest art trend. These digital objects include paintings, animations, and photographs. They can also be certified by blockchain technology.It's so popular that even otherwise cautious auction houses like Christies are embracing it. Christies sold a digital work by Beeple in March 2021 for $69.3 Million. Sothebys sold the first NFT-certified work by Pak in three days from April 12-14. It has since sold CryptoPunk #7523, one among a number of 10,000 pixel-art characters by Larva Labs for almost $11.8 million.Early investors in cryptocurrency, who later became millionaires, are believed to have fuelled the NFT boom. Aparajita Jains Terrain.art in India is hosting an exhibit featuring the artworks of Lalu Prasad Shaw (Bengali-born), which have been certified using NFTs. Arjun Sawhney, an art collector, presents a selection 27 figurative paintings. They are infused with references to Kalighat pats as well as early studio photography."Babu II" by Lalu Shaw.Jain states that Terrain.art was the first platform to use blockchain technology in India to register artworks with NFTs. Through curated exhibitions, we present both new and previously owned works. Our collectors have a transparent and trustable way to buy, sell, and secure their collection using blockchain technology.Chopard necklace with Paraiba tourmalineChopard, a high-end jeweller, doesn't often release its Paraiba Tourmaline neckpiece in private sales in partnership with Sothebys. The necklace was presented by Caroline Scheufele (the brand's co-president, and artistic director), and is a stunning example of lacework in jewellery.It is made from titanium and fair-mined white-mined gold. The piece's centre contains a 34.63-carat Paraiba Tourmaline, which was mined in Mozambique. It is surrounded by pear-shaped diamonds.Chopard's Paraiba tourmaline necklaceWith its delicate openwork and architectural lines, the necklace looks like a jewel of goldsmith's art. Scheufele is a leading voice in sustainable luxury, and her obsessions are reflected in her work.Collectors' choice: Modern Indian art and AstaGuruIndian auction house AstaGuru will be focusing its attention on modern Indian art. This is the jewel in the collection for art collectors and also fetches some the highest international prices. Demand for Indian masters is always increasing.AstaGuru's vice-president for business strategy and operations Siddanth Shetty says that Indian masters continue dominating the art market, as works of such high quality are very rare. Given the fact that most of the masters are gone, there is a limited number of paintings. The master artists' creative expressions have stood the test the test of time. Their works are also important historically because they capture the evolution and foundation of modernism India.M.F. Husain.M.F. Husains Untitled was an acrylic-on–paper work from his Calcutta Series. Husain's Calcutta 300-From Job Charnock’s Kolkata to SatyajitRay's Mahanagar - Also debuted at this auction. Other notable art pieces on auction include Ivory Eyes and Ram Kumar's 1999 oil-on canvas, 1976-dated enamel-on-canvas work by Prabhakar Barrwe.Other works include those by Bengal School of Art greats Jamini Roy, Gaganendranath Tagore, and Nandalal Bolse. Also, work by Jogen, Ganesh Pyne. Krishen Khanna. Jehangir Sabavala. Souza. Shetty says that there is a strong demand for masterworks. He has also seen an increase in the art market, with many young bidders taking part in their auctions.Tinged with Royalty - Karkhana ChroncilesOnce upon a time, the royalty of old owned sprawling karkhanas. Literally, these were factories. Figuratively, they were art studios. Here artisans could create exquisite art and objects for their imperial patrons. Karkhana Chronicles is an initiative of The ReFashion Hub that celebrates India's textile heritage, its custodians, and their contributions towards sustainability. Through a series of art-and-fashion installations, it tells the story of India's artisanal heritage. These are not ordinary exhibits. These exhibits can be found in India's most beautiful palaces, which were once home to royal families. They range from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Mayurbhanj, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.Installation in Indore for Karkhana Chronicles IIBhavnagar brings together women beaders and weavers from the city as well as copper karigaars from Sihor. An Indore palace's installation takes its inspiration from the Boutet de Monvel portraits by Maharaja Yeshwantrao II, and Maharani Sanyogitaraje Holkar. These depict the couple with both European and Indian looks. Jayathmika Lakshmi and Yaduveer Wadiyar, who hail from the former royal family, designed the Mysore Palace installation. It highlights the city's legacy Khadi as well as other weaving units that use native cotton. It also features Navalgund Dhurrie which is a craft that is only 50 weavers practice today.Weaves of Solidarity, OBEETEEThis auction has soul. In its second edition, the month-long Social Fabric 2.0 – Weaves of Solidarity will sell woven carpets made by master craftsmen. The proceeds will be donated to the families and communities of weavers that have been particularly affected by the pandemic. Many of these weavers are currently in financial difficulties and lack of a market. Many master weavers are artisan-based families that have produced carpets for great kings and Diwan-eKhas of Mughal emperors.Angelique Dhama, the CEO of the brand, said, "The auction is a way of maintaining the livelihood of Mirzapur weaver, as well as ensuring that the tradition is passed on to future generations."This edition includes hand-tufted carpets that were woven in the great tradition of weaving from empires such as Persian and Ottoman, as well as a few contemporary patterns.
