Friday, June 7, 2013

A chance to acquire masterpieces

Followed by the significant Amaya Collection sale, its first ever Indian art’s Evening Auction, Sotheby’s has now sourced a very impressive line-up of works - many of them fresh to the art market and also with great provenances - for its upcoming Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art auction in London.

The event to be held on 11th June will include two magnificent artworks by late Maqbool Fida Husain (1913-2011), offered at any auction for the first time in the centenary year of his birth – one of them from a former Indian Ambassador’s collection. His 1961 oil on canvas work ‘Jhoola’ (price estimate: £220,000-250,000), acquired directly from the legendary artist during the 1960s, is a perfect example of his unique blend of post-Impressionist and post-Independence painting.

The auction includes exciting works by the likes of late Bhupen Khakhar, Jehangir Sabavala and senior master Krishen Khanna apart from significant works by top contemporary artists like Jitish Kallat - a lightbox installation (piece estimate: £80,000-120,000). It comprises a series of images of rotis, eaten away to imitate the different phases of the moon. This alludes to both the earning of daily bread and the fast of Ramadan, the conclusion of which relies upon the sighting of the new moon.

The contemporary section includes an exceptional diptych by Thukral and Tagra among others. Further highlighting the works on offer, a press release reveals, “Indian Sculpture in the modern era is honored through the iconic works of Chintamoni Kar, Prodosh Das Gupta and Sarbari Roy Choudhury. These artists explored the ideals of ‘Modernism’ in their works by experimenting with unconventional material and using the rural landscape and the tribal regions as inspiration.

“Highlights from the modern section include a stunning work by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, titled ‘Painting No.1’, and an Untitled canvas by SH Raza, painted just before his venture into Bindu series. In addition, there is an outstanding work by Francis Newton Souza (Christ on Palm Sunday), a moving and emotional Pieta by Krishen Khanna from 1978.”

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