AstaGuru's upcoming 'Modern Odyssey' Auction will feature a mesmerising tapestry of Modern Indian Art, presenting a rare collection of unparalleled works by iconic Indian modernists. Each work offered reflects the diverse and ever-changing artistic landscape in India over decades. The finely curated catalogue offers an eclectic selection of over 200 works by luminaries, including Jamini Roy, M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza, K. H. Ara, F. N. Souza, Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, K. G. Subramanyan, Ganesh Pyne, Jogen Chowdhury, G.R. Santosh, J Swaminathan, K. Laxma Goud, Thota Vaikuntam, K. K. Hebbar, Bikash Bhattacharjee, B. Prabha, Sakti Burman, Manu Parekh, and Paramjit Singh, amongst others. Two works by historic Bengal school visionaries Rabindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose are also being showcased.

Here are some of the auction highlights for the upcoming auction scheduled for December 11-12, 2023.

Lot no. 119: UNTITLED (KRISHNA) by Manjit Bawa

Manjit Bawa’s painting captivates with its vibrant narrative, featuring a central figure strongly reminiscent of Krishna against a striking red backdrop, a nod to the artist’s profound connection to Indian mythology and Sufism. The peacock feather adorning the figure’s hair identifies him as Krishna, a motif recurring in Bawa’s oeuvre. The protagonist leans over a supine lion, a symbolic gesture perhaps drawing inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna introduces himself as ‘Hari’ or lion. This echoes Krishna’s transformative ‘Nrsimhadeva’ avatar, embodying a fusion of man and lion.

Lot no. 87: UNTITLED by N S Bendre

The presented lot showcases a mother with her infant child on her lap. The beauty work encapsulates Bendre’s mid-career exploration of colour and figure. After a brief foray into abstraction, Bendre redirected his focus to pastoral scenes featuring rural women engrossed in their daily activities. Employing a controlled palette and minimal chiaroscuro or perspective, he depicted these subjects engaging in tasks such as bathing, weaving, playing music, reading, and nurturing their children. The elimination of background details directs the viewer’s complete attention to the central figures— the mother and her children. The artist’s minimalist approach underscores the emotional connection between the mother and child. By stripping away extraneous elements, Bendre allows the viewer to delve into the essence of the maternal bond and the simplicity of rural life.

Lot no. 63: UNTITLED by F N Souza

An enigma who was known to challenge conventions through his art, F N Souza executed the imagery of human heads and faces that were far from being realistic or sentimental in nature. A theme that continued to appear throughout his career, Souza’s paintings of heads and human faces were highly distorted. Although they may come across as raw and visceral, the artist executed these works with extreme intricateness.

Lot no. 28: UNTITLED (HEAD OF A PRIEST) by F N Souza

The presented work is a glorious example of F. N. Souza’s fascination with the motif of head, one of the most recurring and recognisable themes in his work. This masterpiece once belonged to the esteemed collection of New York art patron Harold Kovner, a visionary who recognized Souza’s burgeoning talent. Their serendipitous meeting in Paris in 1956 marked the beginning of a symbiotic relationship, with Kovner providing Souza with financial freedom through a monthly stipend that spanned four prolific years. The relief from survival struggles resulted in an extremely productive phase for the artist. In spring 1962, Susan Seifert and family visited Harold Kovner in New York. When Kovner learned about her budding passion for art, he gave her the presented lot as a gift.

Lot no. 34: BIRD, MOUNTAIN, TREE by J Swaminathan

Jagdish Swaminathan’s ‘Bird, Mountain, Tree’ showcases the artist’s revolutionary approach to painting and his deep exploration of the interplay between space, time, and spirituality. The series, characterised by its iconic dual signifiers of birds and mountains, transcends traditional boundaries, inviting viewers into a two-dimensional cosmos that is both meditative and metaphorical. In these works, Swaminathan’s surrealist vision unfolds with a magnetic pull, defying gravity and releasing viewers’ thoughts on a levitating flight. The untitled oil on canvas from 1986, a pivotal piece in the series, showcases Swaminathan’s structured ideology and the culmination of his exploration into the relationship between space and time.

Lot no. 41: ALPHABET STORIES II by Gulammohammed Sheikh

Born in Surendranagar, Gujarat, in 1937, Gulammohammed Sheikh earned a master’s degree in fine arts in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Baroda. In 1966, he was awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship from the Royal College of Art, London, and later became an associate of the academy. He has been actively involved in academia, teaching art history and painting at the University of Baroda. Additionally, he served as a visiting artist at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2002 and held a visiting fellowship at Delhi University in 2004.

Lot no. 59: DOLL by Bikash Bhattacharjee

Bikash Bhattacharjee’s ‘Doll Series’ stands as a poignant testament to the tumultuous socio-political landscape of 1970s Bengal. The artist, recognized with a national award by the Lalit Kala Akademi during this period, channelled his growing interest in societal commentary into this compelling body of work. Executed in the early 70s, the series visually captures the haunting essence of civil unrest, violence, and loss stemming from the conflict between the police and Naxal movement supporters in Bengal.

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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