Minal and Dinesh Vazirani
"If you put us in a room with a collection of paintings, we always choose the same one," laugh Dinesh and Minal Vazirani. The couple invested in their very first artwork during their honeymoon, in 1994. The piece, made by a Balinese painter, represented the beginning of a lifelong journey of collecting art, and helping others access art that they want to invest in. Six years later, they established Saffronart, the country's first online art auction house, and partly catalysed the Indian Art Boom of the noughties.
We rewind a bit, and it's revealed that the two met at a Thanksgiving dinner in San Francisco. "Dinesh was studying art and design, while I was also studying art history. We kept in touch, and a year and a half later, we decided to get married," shares Minal. This was followed by the Vaziranis' relocation back to Mumbai. Minal adds, "When you live in a place that has a 5,000-year-old aesthetic history, you cannot help but be drawn to it." It is this rich visual culture that the duo took to the rest of the world, especially in the initial days of Saffronart.
"We did a lot of shows in New York, London, Hong Kong, etc., because the internet penetration there was better. And the NRIs wanted to buy Indian art because it was like a cultural bridge for them. One of the reasons we focused on the international market was that it was well-suited for a transparent model," explains Dinesh.
Saffronart was one the first auction houses to openly publish prices online. The Vaziranis' own experiences purchasing art and being unsure about the pricing led them to this choice. "The other issue was accessibility.
Bu hikaye Grazia India dergisinin February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Grazia India dergisinin February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
More Than It Seams
Who says lace can’t be hewn from leather? Or that paper can’t sit on the body like a weathered old sweater? In a time of rampant production and boundless creativity, is material the final frontier for designers? When all else seems lost to the algorithm, fashion’s deceptive ingenuity requires us to look a little closer
Under The Needle
With filler-face phasing out, we are embracing the natural aesthetic but not how you might expect it
BUILDING A LEGACY
Driven by passion and a commitment to quality, this brand is making a mark in the luxury furniture market with a perfect blend of local artistry and global design
A WALK DOWN FIFTH AVENUE
From high fashion to historic landmarks, this coffee table book explores how Fifth Avenue became the heartbeat of New York's cultural and social scene
NO SEX, MO' PROBLEMS?
At a time when sex seems to be everywhere, women are experiencing a dip in their sexual desires. We find out why
TABLE FOR ONE, PLEASE
In a world obsessed with couplegoals, here’s why taking yourself out for a date might just be the ultimate love story
THE DREAM CANVAS
In the city that wholeheartedly embraces its role as a global cultural hub, the second edition of Art Mumbai promises to redefine creativity and innovation
SPRING FORWARD
Of hits, misses, and everything in between this season at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI
LUST-WORTHY LUXURY LABELS
To Light Up This Wedding Season
ICONIC DESIGN MEETS A MOBILE FUTURE
The new Dell XPS is designed for new age content creators and suave C-suite