M.F. Husain, Raza, Souza and More Come to NYC

Check out the high drama painting of Durga by Manjit Bawa at Christie’s with an estimated price tag of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.

…As the image is revealed, the backdrop itself becomes the enactment.
-Manjit Bawa

Throughout his life and career, Manjit Bawa remained heavily influenced by the compelling narratives of ancient Indian mythology and literature. He recalls this indebtedness, stating, “They remain to me basically mythical icons – as Durga, Kali, Shiva, Krishna or even Heer-Ranjha, Mirza-Sahiba or Sohni-Mahiwal. In my world of imagination they are very real. I have known them from childhood tales and fables narrated to me by my father. As I grew up, I met them again in literature, music, poetry and art. What else can I paint? Or draw?” (Artist statement, I. Puri, Let’s Paint the Sky Red: Manjit Bawa, New Delhi, 2011, p. 47).

Bawa was also greatly inspired by Indian classical artistic traditions often incorporating elements from various genres and periods in his own paintings. His exquisite use of contour, for example, borrows from Kalighat paintings, the flat, saturated fields of gem-like colors against which he places his figures borrow from schools of miniature painting, and his choice of subjects and themes often borrows form the classical texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas. Bawa visited specific mythological themes throughout his career, depicting iconic gods and goddesses like Shiva, Krishna, Kali and Durga using his unique visual vocabulary.

(text from the Lot essay)

You have a chance to enjoy the work of iconic Indian artists – and maybe even buy their works at two auctions being held at Christie’s as part of Asia Week. There’s a live sale at Christie’s of South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art on 22 March at 11:00 am and an online sale, South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art Online from 15-28 March.

Christie’s Auction of South Asian Contemporary and Modern Art

The noted names include Francis Newton Souza, Sayed Haider Raza, Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar and Maqbool Fida Husain. There are also works by pioneers of South Asian modernism Jamini Roy, Abdur Rahman Chughtai, George Keyt and Rashid Choudhury, and rare works by Anwar Jalal Shemza, Zarina and Rummana Hussain.

The registration closes in 3 days and the bidding begins in 4 days. Read more about it on Lassi with Lavina. Check out photos and follow the links to go to the visiting room, browse the lots and learn more about South Asian contemporary and modern art!