Art auction for flood relief a huge success

The Kochi Biennale Foundation’s art auction, an attempt to raise funds for the flood relief works, has become a big success. At the auction titled ‘Art Rises for Kerala’, held on Friday in collaboration with Mumbai’s SaffronArt, works of 41 artists were put up. The exhibits had been on display at the Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi since January 5.  It is estimated that the organisers were able to raise around Rs 3.2 crore from the auction.

The sale will have no Buyer's Premium and its proceeds will be donated to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). It was the first art auction in the state. More than a hundred people participated in the auction in person and via online. Some of the artworks had more buyers and had close calls during the auction. Legendary artist Amrita Sher-Gil’s two drawings were the works which attracted more buyers in the auction held at Grand Hyatt Hotel. Works of A. Ramachandran, Paris Viswanathan, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Francesco Clemente, Robert Montgomery, and C. Bagyanath were also hot prospects.   

Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari said the exact amount raised during the auction would be published in the coming days.