The ART of Gift-Giving 

Featured artwork: Laxman Shreshtha – Untitled (2004) – oil on canvas – 14 x 14 in. (35.6 x 35.6 cm.)

Giving gifts is just one of the little joys in life. It allows us to convey great feelings and sentiments we cannot put into words to our friends and loved ones and share their excitement and joy when receiving and unwrapping them. But the act of gift-giving is hit-and-miss. We might give someone a gift they do not particularly like or something inappropriate if we are not careful. Either way, gift-giving going wrong is an awkward or god-forbid embarrassing experience. But nothing is worse than showing up empty-handed! So let us make the case for giving art as a gift in all the seasons of giving in your life, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Here’s ARTIANA’s guide on why choosing art as a gift just makes sense:

1. Art is enduring. Meaningful and enduring are some of the qualities you want a gift to be. It may not be easy to leave a mark or leave a lasting impression, but gifting someone art is one of the easiest ways to make sure they are reminded of you every time they see it. Good art – of any kind – conveys sentiments and unspoken words of gratitude or love, not necessarily in the meaning of it but in the gesture of gifting it. Its longevity and durability also ensure a lifetime connection to the recipient.

2. Art is unique. Art has a specific purpose. Whatever reason an artist has for creating something is eccentric. Since the artwork is unique, it is the perfect choice to make someone feel special when they receive it, especially if the story behind the piece resonates with the recipient. 

3. Art is personal and holds so much meaning for people, not only because of its essence intrinsically but also in the intimacy it conveys. Giving a well-thought-out gift, such as an art piece, displays a deep understanding of the person you are giving it to, their preference and how they make sense of the world. As each piece of art is unique, it is personal, like any other idea. Images, texture, color, and shape tell a story and can speak to us with emotion. There will be memories and nostalgia, making receiving it not only a physical experience but an emotional one too. 

4. Art is a luxury. Art in our homes adds a luxurious feel to our surroundings and our homes, not just aesthetically but as a whole. To enjoy a magnificent piece of artwork every day – on your wall or your shelves – of something that speaks to your soul, or a slice of a history long-forgotten, or a magnum opus – is a luxurious experience in itself. It adds character, sophistication and culture to our dwellings while reflecting our inner worlds into our physical surroundings. Although it is not a necessity for existence, it is an addition that certainly gives life more beauty and substance. 

5. Art is an investment. If you decide to spend your money on a great work of art as a gift, it is still an asset that will pay off in the long run. Apart from the sentimental value, art is a valuable financial asset, especially investment-grade art, with values that only increase with time. Precious artworks made centuries ago are worth a million today. Thus, gifting a select artwork can be financially rewarding for the recipient. 

Choosing art for gifting helps tailor communication and better connection to special ones. Unlike any other gifts, giving a piece of art is more than just formalities. It comes with bundles of love that lasts a lifetime. Art nowadays might embrace various styles, subjects, and media, but its effects are strong, providing rich possibilities. 

Provenance: Why Should it Matter to You?

Image taken from Kofi Agorsor: The Colours of Life Exhibition on March 2022 at ARTIANA, DIFC

People have been collecting art for the past hundred years, so determining where a piece comes from is often a combination of tracking an artwork’s history and documentation.

Essentially, provenance is a record of ownership of a work of art used as a guide to determine its authenticity and quality. It establishes an artwork’s collectible significance and captures its ownership history all the way back to the artist’s studio.

But why is it so important for art collecting?

1. Establishing the ownership history
Provenance provides an ownership record of an artwork which is a critical foundation for assessing its authenticity. It shows the overview of who a piece has belonged to and where it passed through over time, be it auction houses, galleries, dealers who sold it, and art exhibitions it was shown. Older works, especially those several hundred years old or older, are sometimes given a symbolic seal of approval through a provenance document.

2. Establish the authenticity
Proving the authenticity of art based on provenance was previously seen as an infallible way to verify its authenticity. Now there is more than one way to establish it. However, collecting genuine works of art is easier with provenance. It’s history, even if accumulated for thousands of years, can help verify authenticity, provide buyers assurance and reduce risks in buying.

3. Valuation
Verified provenance can prove the authenticity of a piece and increase its value tenfold, enhancing its collectible status and making it in demand and invaluable.

4. Determine the historical significance of an artwork
An artwork with interesting provenance tells a story of how it changed hands through time, ideally from the artist to its current owner – which might place it in remarkable historical moments or hands of important and famous people. This adds story and gravitas to the pieces by giving them cultural and historical importance.

5. Guide collectors
Knowing a piece of art’s provenance can help buyers determine which pieces are worth investing in. Failing to consider the relevance of provenance documents may cause disputes regarding ownership, authenticity, and value one day. Thus, even where authenticity is not currently an issue, an inaccurate or incomplete provenance could still give rise to a claim in the future. An impeccable provenance can be used to mitigate this risk.