Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces Series | March 2010

7 The Masterpieces SerieS Correct structures do exist to build such platforms, and it is for the creative private sector to grasp that the responsibility is to the public as much as to the private stakeholders. There is no conflict in this position, though difficult to balance, for neither need be sacrificed to please the other. Social responsibility is not a donation or a buzz word or a show of largesse, it is the very rebuilding of the roots and pillars upon which the corporate entity and its governance depends. Naturally, this is no easy task, and no space for cowards to peddle art and culture purely as a commodity. For the cultural and educational entrepreneur and activist there is duty to build beyond what you sell, there is a duty to risk beyond the norms of simple economic logic, and sometimes you will fall flat on your face, you will fail, and that is fine, for a hundred will support, lift you up again, for the intent is noble, the need is critical. Unless institutions take on the challenge of building great platforms like Osian’s, there is no chance that we will one day have a value system rooted in the creative spirit of the human being, more free from the binding forces of cold economic logic and the blindness of religious animosity. Creative energies are the only glue for great civilization building, but they must have financial independence to earn the respect of a material system. On one level, it is not that difficult, but more than that, it is now inevitable that it must succeed, as the balance of power fundamentally shifts. The world of art, culture and education must recognize that with this power emerges vast responsibility to handle wealth in a new manner, with a new sense of justice, with the prudence it demands and the abandon which is inherent in its nature. We are but trustees, never more, never less, and this duty is to be implemented in the corporate world not only in the world of charity and patronage. It is a gamble which must be taken now, even if the burden of administration is to eat into our sanity. Artistic and cultural institutions must aspire to fulfill the highest financial and legal due diligence and standards, and yes we will stumble along the way, for our intent will never be to simply maximize profits, and so the very motivation of the economic system has to be re-disciplined. The mechanisms to bring about daily efficiencies and a rigorous work ethic have to be realigned to evolve new management and HRD policies. The processes of delegation of duty have to be thought out anew. The nature of labor specialization with new levels of concentration and lower thresholds of boredom and inner challenge will require greater and more flexible holistic frameworks to inspire loyalty and dedication to the task. The manner of creating hierarchies will need to be fused with a new informality rooted in the energy of love re- institutionalized, while the management of cash flow models and the like need a new attitude and discipline which cannot be simply lifted from existing business models with deeply different objectives. Fundamental amid all these institutional changes will be the new role of the HRD, the orientation and training systems, and other expertise building programs which will need to be thoroughly restructured so that expertise, learning and sensitizing move hand in hand. These solutions are not simple, but each time a leader stumbles, it gets easier for all to learn and become better. Naturally, great leaders pick themselves up and become more compassionate, caring and wiser, able to embrace a much larger role than previously thought possible. Hopefully Osian’s can fulfill such a role, or then those who aspire to be better than us. Irrespective of the individual, the key is that the journey for the development of the arts and culture in India must now take the bull by the horns and understand the most difficult material duty before itself. For at the heart of the finest creativity is the deepest ethical desire to see goodness and beauty in all we do and live, all else are steps and weapons of convenience, fleeting moments waiting to create the atmosphere anew, for it is all in the air, and the air must always be fused with the freshness of the intangible. That is the real material battle for the arts. The paradigm is waiting to be rebuilt. Neville Tuli