Popular culture has been greatly influential in several Indian contemporary artists’ works with them taking inspiration from Indian cinema, comics, cartoons and street art. Not only are these works reflective of the trends of the time but also a commentary on people’s changing taste in media, aesthetics and culture. Several Indian contemporary artists have experimented with new techniques, styles and mediums to create their oeuvre, reinventing what the Indian pop art sphere looks like. Presented below are some of the prominent Pop Art works being showcased in AstaGuru’s upcoming ‘Present Futures’ Contemporary Art auction.

Lot no. 68: Untitled - Suryakant Lokhande

With usage of his neon colours, photographic references and elements of pop art, Suryakant Lokhande’s works are indicative of his inspirations that lie in popular culture. The presented lot is an artwork featuring a still of Indian actress Kareena Kapoor from one of her popular films. His works predominantly feature women who are unbothered by societal norms and forge their own path. They are also a commentary on the materialistic nature of today’s world.

Lot no. 80: Rainbows In Curved Air -Study For An Installation Elysium (Cuckoonebulopolis) - Surendran Nair

Part of Surendran Nair’s Cuckoonebulopolis series, the presented lot features iconography usually seen in comics and cartoons depicting explosions. The series first began in 2000, inspired by Greek playwright Aristophanes’s satirical work titled ‘Birds. Nair’s vast and ever-growing series attempts to explore a utopian world that rests between heaven and hell. The presented oil on canvas work was executed in 2010 and was previously exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.

Lot no. 84: Mind The Gap - Bose Krishnamachari

Bose Krishnamachari’s ‘Mind The Gap’ is a mixed media work that amalgamates two portraits of acclaimed singer-songwriter Bob Dylan with a train station sign in the center. The artist is known for working in the abstract, creating vivid works that are often symbolic. However, his recent oeuvre has been dominated by influential figures including Frida Kahlo and Rabindranath Tagore.

Lot no. 33: Untitled: (Ed 3/15) - Sanuj Birla

Self-taught pop artist Sanuj Birla’s oeuvre is inspired by figures in mass media like superheroes, popular icons and cartoons. Combining these he creates bright and bold works in different mediums, blending surrealism, realism and pop art. The presented lot is a sculpture inspired by Mickey Mouse and features a large dollar sign.

Lot no. 111: ‘Anarkali and Seventy Two Idiots’ by Atul Dodiya

Atul Dodiya’s ‘Anarkali and Seventy Two Idiots’ is a tongue-in-cheek artwork that combines 73 portraits of influential Indian contemporary artists. The portraits have been doodled over with mustaches, bindis and other decorative elements to create a humorous take on the otherwise serious art of portraiture. Dodiya, renowned for being one of the most important contemporary artists of the country, usually takes inspiration from signage seen around the city of Mumbai, billboards and Indian films.

AstaGuru’s upcoming “Present Future’ Contemporary Art Auction has been finely curated to bring the best of prevalent trends in contemporary art space in India. The auction catalogue features an assortment of 125 artworks spanning mediums which include paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, as well as some vibrant examples of mixed media art. The auction is scheduled for February 15-16, 2023.

About AstaGuru
AstaGuru was conceptualised in the year 2008 with the sole purpose of creating a safe and secure platform to conduct online auctions for Indian, Contemporary & Modern Art. The word AstaGuru is a thoughtful conjugation of ‘Asta’, of Italian origin, which translates to auction and ‘Guru’, Sanskrit connotation for ‘master’ that indicates our distinguished finesse at being the leaders of auctioneering art and artefacts in India as well as globally. With the world melting into one harmonious digital cosmos, AstaGuru has strived to successfully bridge the gap between prospective buyers and consignors by transcending the limitations of live auctions. AstaGuru imparts effortless transparency to the process of acquiring and selling art and rare collectables. Our diverse portfolio includes categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately and Vintage Cars. AstaGuru’s mobile app enables our esteemed bidders to follow and participate in our auctions seamlessly, and in real-time.

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