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With the current global socio-economic situation, that distance is further created as the people find life becoming more basic by having to cater for their everyday needs with the overhanging threat of not being able to make long-term investments. The public has not yet come to grasp the relevance of art as either a way to please the senses or its strength as an investment. A common truth is now arising, being that every citizen of Zimbabwe has a right to collect art regardless of race or social status.
There are numerous Art Collections in Zimbabwe ranging from private collections to much larger public collections that are housed in State institutions.
Firstly one may be interested to know what entails a collection of art, a private collection to be much more specific. A private collection is a body of artworks that composes of work by painters, sculptors and potters from various artists from across the country, the region and the world.
Usually when one embarks on establishing a collection of artworks it has to be relevant to the context of the day, meaning that the art has to be of significance in that place and time. It would however be too strict to set boundaries on issues such as context however a collection can be solely established on matters of taste.
Whether it is taste or scholarly context that guides the individual when setting up their private collection, it is of great importance to observe certain criteria as to put together the most valuable work. Firstly, one must note that in using the word valuable the collector must know that the work they are purchasing must have qualities that carry mass appeal in as much as it bears considerable potential for monetary worth in future.
To take note of the potential of a work of art as an investment, the discerning collector must first research on what the art form that appeals to them and would potentially suit the heterogeneous tastes of the contemporary art consumer.
Without this research the discerning collector will have no idea on which artist to acquire work from, where the artist exhibits and what to deal with on acquiring and after acquiring the artwork.
It is imperative to know that when buying art as a collector one has to have an observant yet blinkered approach to their choices.
The objective is to naturally make a purchase of good art however without running a risk whereas they are swayed from purchasing according to taste and acquiring what would seemingly be the “best art”. It is crucial that the collector make dedicated decisions and keep the situation of acquiring art within their own control thus one must always live and buy within their means.
In the following series of articles there will be an expansion on the principles of collecting artwork and some of the new class of discerning collectors and established ones will be introduced.
There will also be an insight into the public collections that are housed in Zimbabwean institutions.
Online Reporter