present future : highlights from astaguru’s upcoming contemporary indian art auction
AstaGuru will present the next edition of its ‘Present Future’ Contemporary Art Auction with an eclectic assortment of artworks by leading contemporary artists, including Anish Kapoor, Bharti Kher, Atul Dodiya, Jitish Kallat, Nataraj Sharma, Valay Shende, Suryakant Lokhande, Ranbir Singh Kaleka, Surendran Nair, Bose Krishnamachari, N.S. Harsha, Jagannath Panda, Mithu Sen, Baiju Parthan, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, T.V. Santhosh, Jayashree Chakravarty, Sheila Makhijani, G R Iranna, Mrinalini Mukherjee, Sudhir Patwardhan, among others. The finely curated catalogue with over 100 works in diverse styles, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media art, perfectly represents the prevalent art trends and gives an insight into the future of contemporary art. The auction is scheduled for September 23-24, 2023.
Presented below are highlights from the upcoming auction :
Lot no. 73 : Seeing Some Things Better by Bharti Kher
Bharti Kher’s signature style creations engage with complex themes through a unique deployment of the bindi, a traditional symbol in South Asian culture. First appearing in her work in 1995, it has since evolved into a recurring motif through which she communicates with the world. A symbol of femininity and spirituality, the bindi undergoes a transformation through Kher’s art, who references them as the third eye that women wear on their foreheads and employs them to address concepts of identity, femininity and cultural hybridity.
Lot no. 8 : Frozen Footnotes - 1 b Jitish Kallat
Kallat’s creations frequently traverse different scales, oscillating between contemplations of the individual, urban streets, the nation, and the cosmic expanse. This allows him to scrutinize the fleeting versus eternal, the commonplace in relation to history, and the microscopic juxtaposition with the telescopic. Notably, some of his most remarkable works pay homage to his hometown, Mumbai. Kallat’s oeuvre can be perceived as a constant interplay between his perspectives on self, city, and nation.
Lot no. 15 : Gau - Raksha Meeting by Atul Dodiya
The commemoration of India’s fifty years of independence in 1997 initially sparked Dodiya’s incorporation of Mahatma Gandhi’s imagery into his creations. Two years later, diverging from his usual oil-on-canvas medium, he crafted a series of watercolour paintings for a seminal collection titled “Artist of Non-Violence.” It drew inspiration from various moments in Gandhi’s life, skillfully juxtaposed with references from diverse sources. With their minimal execution, the paintings in the series resonate with Gandhi’s simplistic approach to life.
Lot no. 80 : Gargoyle River (Tetrapytch) by Baiju Parthan
The presented lot by Baiju Parthan is a sprawling tetraptych stretching twenty-four feet and masterfully combines four distinct panels within its canvas. Titled ‘Gargoyle River,’ the work presents four distinctive scenes, each infused with profound mythic implications and historical references. This innovative arrangement grants Baiju Parthan the creative freedom to fine-tune each section with the intensity of a solo performance.
Lot no. 95 : Sama Talav by Nataraj Sharma
The presented lot is a large-scale work, reaching six feet, and depicts Lake Sama in the city of Vadodara, where the artist resides. Nataraj Sharma spent his childhood and formative years living in multiple countries, such as Egypt, England and Zambia. These diverse, cross- cultural experiences instilled in him a profound sense of displacement and ambivalence. Yet, paradoxically, these very encounters became the cornerstone of his expansive and resolute visual lexicon, adding gravitas to his artistic scope.
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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