India boasts some of the world’s cheapest mobile internet rates. Removing cost as a barrier to internet access has resulted in its ‘democratisation.’ Even smartphones are becoming more affordable than ever before. It is possible to conclude that a person is more likely to own a smartphone with an internet connection than own a fixed residence.
The cost mentioned above advantages in these areas has had a snowball effect, resulting in a plethora of opportunities for many people.
Let’s look at how this could benefit an Indian artisan from a financially disadvantaged family.
Artisan’s Obstacles to Overcoming
Physical space:
To market their work, the artisan requires a physical location or a gallery with a high volume of foot traffic. Such venues are non-existent in rural areas and are usually only available in metro cities or metropolitan areas.
Costs of the exhibition:
Regardless of how brilliant an artist is, the cost of presenting their work in a prominent area can be a considerable obstacle. After the gallery takes its cut, entering into tie-ups with galleries may not leave them with much money.
A demand aggregation platform:
This might be considered a summary of the previous two ideas. There is virtually no platform for such artisans to promote their work. Potential buyers could view the art and communicate with the artisans.
The majority of artisans lack the financial money to access such venues.
Forgeries, duplication, and other such issues:
While there are measures to reduce the danger of forgeries or duplicates, they are not entirely risk-free. The original artist is denied fair credit due to the fraudster’s actions. This can also deter potential buyers from attempting to purchase artwork.
Obtaining a fair price:
Another disadvantage of not having a platform is that hard labour is rarely rewarded relatively. The artist should be well-versed in the various options available.
How the NFT Revolution Can Benefit Artists
Let’s get one thing straight right away: this will not be an easy road. However, with the use of NFTs, several steps on the artisan’s path to success might be skipped. In light of the preceding, the following points should be considered:
Create a web presence. Use social media to gain at least 1000 dedicated followers utilising your work as the focal point.
Complement the sale of real art pieces by offering a digital audience an NFT version of the same.
Describe the context or storey behind each work of art. Furthermore, if the artists can give their audience a glimpse of their journey, the art becomes more appealing and authentic. “A collector who comes on our platform wants to be guaranteed that they are unique, authentic, real credible creators,” says Vishaka Singh, Vice President of WazirX NFT. (The Hindustan Times)
It would be difficult to duplicate the NFT because it would be stored on a blockchain. The artist would always be given credit for their work.
Conclusion
Both art and the artisan can no longer be considered traditional. The NFTs give you a reach you’ve never had before. The artisan still has work to do, but his work is cut out for him. The majority of traditional entry barriers have vanished.