In its upcoming 'Beyond Bold' Contemporary Indian Art Auction, AstaGuru is set to present a diverse collection of artworks by renowned contemporary artists such as Subodh Gupta, Nalini Malani, Jitish Kallat, Nataraj Sharma, Valay Shende, Suryakant Lokhande, Ranbir Singh Kaleka, Raqib Shaw, Ravinder Reddy, Surendran Nair, Bose Krishnamachari, N.S. Harsha, Jagannath Panda, T.V. Santhosh, Sudhir Patwardhan, and others. The meticulously curated catalogue features over 100 pieces across various mediums, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media art, providing a comprehensive snapshot of current art trends and offering insights into the future of contemporary Indian art. The auction is slated to take place on December 16-17, 2023.

Here are some of highlights from the upcoming auction:

Lot no. 58: Pink by Subodh Gupta:

The presented lot titled ‘Pink’ from the year 2008 consists of chimtas. While at the first glance, the installation’s attractive colour and form may resemble a cheerleader’s pompom or party decoration, as a matter of fact it is made of thousands of pincers that are used in one’s kitchen. Staying true to his philosophy of transforming everyday objects into works of art, in this large-scale installation too he astonishes the viewer by completely altering the preconceived attributes of the base object.

Lot no. 44: Swimmer’s Manual by Nataraj Sharma

The presented lot is a work by artist Nataraj Sharma. Standing the interstice of the modern era, his art practice is influenced by a multiplicity of experiences and, in essence offers incisive commentary about the complex relationship between humans, landscapes, and urbanisation. His canvases are conjured with wit and are ruminative of the implications of a rapidly transforming urban environment. The artist achieves this vision with a complex visual interplay and improvisation of varied elements, including memories, panoramic views, technology, detailed imagery, and nature.

Lot no. 79: 260 KMPH - 920 HPA by Vibha Galhotra

Vibha Galhotra was born in 1978 in Chandigarh. She completed her B.F.A in Graphics from the Government College of Arts, Chandigarh and her M.F.A in Graphics from the Kala Bhavan, Visa Bharti, Santiniketan. Her art addresses transcultural global local specificity. She focuses on the context of displacement, nostalgia, identity, existence, construction or deconstruction, the banal cultural condition in, around the environment of negotiations in the new constantly changing urban atmosphere. Her solo exhibitions include Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, M.S.U Baroda, Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi, Project 88, Mumbai, Gallery Exhibit 320, New Delhi and Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, North Carolina, USA.

Lot no. 6: Untitled by Raqib Shaw

The presented lot is a beautiful signature-style creation by artist Raqib Shaw. Executed with oil, acrylic, glitter, enamel and rhinestones on birchwood, the work is a brilliant example of Shaw’s multifarious influences, ranging from mythology and religion to poetry, literature, art history, textiles and decorative arts from both Eastern and Western traditions.

Lot no. 90: I BEG YOUR PARDON- THE SCORPION ACT II - AN ACTOR MEDITATING ON A CHARACTER OF AN IMAGINARY PLAY by Surendran Nair

In a unique synthesis of classical and contemporary, artist Surendran Nair blends modern imagery with iconography from Indian and Greek art and mythology in his paintings that blur lines between reality and imagination. Often revolving around distinct protagonists, his vibrant and visually charged canvases are rich with metaphors, providing a fertile platform for dialogues on various subjects.

Lot no. 16 Untitled by Suryakant Lokhande

The presented lot is a captivating rendition of Lord Krishna playing the flute by artist Suryakant Lokhande. Executed in his distinctive style and preferred medium of high gloss oil on canvas, the large- scale painting reaching five feet, exudes an aura of vivacity and draws the viewers to Krishna’s musical enchantment. The figure is portrayed with a serene visage and a beautiful smile. The painting’s visual impact is magnified by the striking use of exuberant shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow. Krishna dons an intricate headgear embellished with iridescent peacock feathers, further enhancing the brilliance of his divine presence in this colourful kaleidoscope.