Collectors as patrons

What then is a collector in the Indian artworld, and what makes a collector valuable in this system? In this article I look at how the collector category has transformed and been deployed in varying ways over time, in relation to the art market and shifts in the artworld in India – pertaining to how art is made, its commodification, and changes in artworld composition. As the term collector slips and moves, it seems that collecting is more about a modality of art engagement rather than a type of individual. I conclude with an argument about what the place of the collector-as-patron is in the current Indian artworld, and his/her role in building the sustainability of the art ecosystem.