An art walk and talk with Mr. Kishore Singh at the prestigious National Gallery of Modern Art a year ago was the first time this thought came to my mind – ‘How can you tell that your painting is a fake? And if it is, who do you consult?’

What a lot of us don’t know is that along with the boom in the Indian art market over the last decade, there has also been the unprecedented birth of a multi-crore rupee fraudulent art industry. Most of these fakes are replicated so close to the original that, to the common eye, they’d look identical.

After putting in weeks of research and consulting various experts, artists and lawyers, my ‘idea’ to set up a possible authentication panel to safeguard the interests of artists and collectors, was crushed. Blame it on the inadequate art laws, corrupt government systems or simply on the fact that authentication rights pass on to the hands of a deceased artist’s heirs or family members. Although the presence of a certified body would help improve matters, it comes down to us – as collectors, artists, connoisseurs and consultants – to educate ourselves and others around us on how to avoid the purchase and sale of fakes and duplicates.

Here’s a couple of tips I’ve put together to get you started –

• DO YOUR HOMEWORK, AND THEN DO SOME MORE.. – If the work of an artist interests you, start off by reading about him/her – the style of work, iconic pieces, medium of choice and price ranges. This information is easily available on gallery websites and brochures. In my opinion, it’s always better to consult a couple of different sources to get a clearer picture. Buying an artwork shouldn’t be a hasty decision, take the time to get in your research. If you’re willing to shell out a large amount on a work of art, go the extra mile to ensure that it’s worth it!​
• KNOW THY SELLER – The basic rule of buying art is to stick to the reputed galleries and dealers. Forgers often get their work into the market through fraudulent dealers and galleries looking to earn an extra commission. Vetted art fairs and auction houses, where artworks have to go through a strict screening and authentication procedure, are other (almost always) reliable alternatives. If you don’t know the vendor, determining the details of provenance and authenticity may prove difficult if you wish to sell the painting in future, so choose wisely!
• PROVENANCE IS KEY – For those of you who don’t know, provenance is the history of ownership and transmission of an artwork. When it comes to issues pertaining to authentication, the provenance is the first to be scrutinised. In order to avoid fakes, it is imperative to know where the artwork is coming from. Very often the value of an artwork may also be dependent on its provenance. For instance, if the painting belonged to a reputed museum/collector, it’s value would automatically increase. In many cases, a fake provenance could be provided to dupe buyers into buying fake artworks. Make sure the provenance provided to you is legitimate and verifiable by seeking the opinion of an expert or contacting the previous owner.
• CHECK FOR DAMAGES – On completing your research and selecting the artwork of your choice, make sure to check it thoroughly for damages. In case a painting has been handed down to you as a family heirloom, have it taken to an art restorer to check for any damages and get opinions on authenticity before you bring it to a gallery or an auction house. Restorers work through the layers of a painting to determine its approximate age, medium used and also verify the signature. Forgers often replicate the artist’s signature close to perfectly, so check and recheck!
• CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION – Every artwork, whether purchased from a gallery, an auction house, a private dealer or directly from the artist, comes with a Certificate of Authentication (COA). Ideally, it includes specific details about the artwork such as the image, title, medium, artist name, year of creation, dimensions, category (original, print, serigraph), signature and attestation of the seller and the date of purchase. Refrain from purchasing artworks that come without the COA and keep it handy incase you wish to sell the painting in future.
• GOING DIGITAL – Much of the potential of the art market today lies in the digital world. Online auction houses and gallery websites are making it possible to purchase art from the comfort of our homes. While this paradigm is pushing the limits of geographical markets, buying art online comes with uncertainties. For one, it is important to pick the right sellers who offer secure payment gateways for online transactions. In addition, make sure you purchase art from legitimate and familiar websites, speak with someone from the company via email or telephone to be sure of its authenticity, keep a record of invoices and confirmation emails and check with your bank that you have been correctly charged.

Keeping these pointers handy when purchasing art will go a long way. Create a check-list and make sure you tick all the boxes!

Pass on the information to others around you so we can take on the #FightAgainstFake.

Suggestions:

• Artist Research (Contemporary Art) – www.saffronart.com ; www.mojarto.com ; www.artnet.com ; www.artsome.co
• Artist Research (Modern Art) – www.dagmodern.in ; www.saffronart.com
• Art Restorer – Mrs. Priya Khanna, Art Life Restoration Studio, Defence Colony, New Delhi
• Art Experts – Mr. Kishore Singh, DAG Modern ; Ms. Ina Puri
• Art & Antiquities Lawyer – Ms, Tejshree Savara, Anand and Anand