Sudhanshu Paliwal's Sudharts.net is active once again. His previous effort in 2006 of putting together the art-works of some of the best names of yesteryear was well appreciated by the art-lovers. The exhibition had showcased some of the rare works of Jamini Roy, KG Subbramaniyan, Gaganendranath Tagore, Prabha, Gopal Ghosh, Gobardhan Ash, Mukul Dey and even a rare Dharmanarayan Dasgupta. The exhibition was a runaway success and most of the works got sold in the first three days. By the end of the exhibition, all works were sold. Such huge success was not registered by any gallery in the past few years at New Delhi's Lalit Kala Academy.

Gopal Ghosh's art work which was sold by the Gallery in 2006 (right)

What was the USP of Paliwal? Low prices of course. He had sold paintings of Jamini Roy at a price at least 30% lower than the reighning market value. The painting of Jamini Roy was later put up by its new owner in 2007 again and this time it was priced at three times of what Paliwal had charged for it. Another such rare work that was displayed at the exhibition was that of Dharmanarayan Dasgupta. For over three years now the artist's works are not being seen anywhere. Dasgupta had a very select clientele and after his demise in 1997, his works were showcased by only a handful of galleries in India and abroad. They were always very highly priced quite beyond the rich of most buyers of contemporary art.

Jamini Roy sketch sold by Sudharts (left)

Yet Paliwal sold his works at amazingly low prices. Why? Says Paliwal, "I was new in the field and had aquired these rare works after a lot of hard work. And I had developed connections through which I could aquire more of these works. But I needed immediate cash. So I sold all my collections at slightly lower prices than what they were otherwise fetching in the market." Well, point taken. But what else did he aquire with all that money? Paliwal does not divulge anymore.

Dharmanarayan Dasgupta (right)
In the past two years since his last runaway success, Paliwal has gradually consolidated his business and earned a name in the art-world. Yet in the past two years he has not put up any major show single handedly. Instead he went into colaborations with Lokayata and some other galleries to come up with innovative shows mostly on young artists. Here too Paliwal was quite successful. While 2006 and 2007 have seen a serious dip in art market prices with falling investor-confidence, Paliwal's Sudhart is the only gallery that have succeeded in registering sales every month.

During this time "Indian investors", says Paliwal, "had become suspicious about veteran and famous artists. Many such artists like Vaikunthan, Laxma Goud and Sanjay Bhattacharya were not able to sell much. There were too many of these works and in too many galleries and prices were not charged the same everywhere. Besides the prices of these artists were so high that most investors doubted if they could rise anymore and hence they saw lesser potential in these artists."

Many investors were looking for newer artists with lower prices with a potential of rise in future. This was realised by most galleries as many of them organised shows of upcoming talents and middle-level artists. Bodhi Gallery went into a new process of shortlisting a new set of artists in their panel. Kolkata's Cima showcased the works of young painters below 30years of age at Lalit Kala Academy. Dr Alka Pandey showcased the works of 32 year old GeorgeMartin. Mumbai's Ashish Balram Nagpal concentrated only on Chintan Upadhayay. Paliwal's racehorse was Devajyoti Ray. But instead of concentrating on Ray alone, Paliwal tied up with many upcoming newcomers, prominent among whom is Anita Singh.

Now after a hiatus of two years and many experimentations, paliwal is brimming with confidence. His is the only gallery in New Delhi that has recorded breakeven profit in 2007, at a time when most galleries registered grave losses. So grave was the situation in 2007 that some of best galleries in New Delhi like the Dhoomimal had gone into hibernation and split-ups. Paliwal however floated and now as that the art market is firming up again, Paliwal is rising to the top.

This year Paliwal will be operating mostly alone with his Sudharts. Though collaborations with other like minded art-houses will continue, Sudharts has lined up a set of exhibitions all over India and abroad starting with a solo show of Ray's works in Mumbai's Jehangir Art Gallery.