AstaGuru’s ‘Modern Treasures’ auction breaks world records for six Indian artists
AstaGuru’s recently-concluded Modern Indian art auction, which culminated in a white glove sale generating Rs. 64,71,77,065, has raised the bar for modern Indian art, establishing new price records for six artists -- Ganesh Pyne, KH Ara, Homi Bhabha, B Prabha, Thota Vaikuntam, Dhanraj Bhagat. “Several of the works appeared in an auction for the first time and were enthusiastically acquired, which underscores the market's continued growth,” said Sunny Chandiramani, senior VP - client relations at AstaGuru Auction House. “The result is also indicative of the fact that collectors eagerly anticipate and eagerly await more offerings, and when presented with a diverse and captivating collection, they are willing to go lengths to acquire historically significant artworks." Here are the six artworks that broke price records:
Agencies
2/7
Winter Morning by Ganesh Pyne
Executed in 1971 using tempera on canvas laid on board, ‘Winter Morning’ depicts a solemn figure of a child adorning a cape, capturing a powerful message about the child’s resilience in the face of poverty. The cape, traditionally associated with superheroes, becomes a symbol of hope and strength. Previous record: Rs. 4,03,79,706Sold for: Rs. 5,95,38,462
Agencies
3/7
Untitled by T Vaikuntam
Executed in 2015, the acrylic-on-canvas work perfectly captures the essence of his art practice which is informed by the simple yet profound moments that define life in rural Telangana. Previous record: Rs. 87,12,000Sold for: Rs. 1,41,35,220
Agencies
4/7
Untitled by B Prabha
This 1986 oil-on-canvas was executed in modernist B Prabha’s signature style. Throughout her career, she explored diverse themes, ranging from landscapes to critical societal issues like drought, hunger and homelessness.Previous record: Rs. 1,14,00,000Sold for: Rs. 1,24,17,187
Agencies
5/7
Bathers by KH Ara
‘Bathers’ is a large-scale watercolour on paper work executed circa 1960. It showcases the artist’s command over figuration and his preoccupation with the female nude. Previous record: Rs. 1,06,80,000Sold for: Rs. 3,22,07,401
Agencies
6/7
Angels’ Concert...Homage To Mozart by Homi Bhabha
Scientist and artist Homi Bhabha’s work titled ‘Angels’ Concert… Homage To Mozart’ is an oil on canvas painting that brings together his two passions -- art and music. Executed circa 1960, it portrays a celestial scene where ethereal figures are depicted as musicians. Previous record: Rs. 15,40,000Sold for: Rs. 89,46,414
Agencies
7/7
Untitled by Dhanraj Bhagat
The untitled work by famed sculptor Dhanraj Bhagat is executed in fibreglass, circa 1970. As Bhagat’s artistic exploration evolved, he developed a distinct individualistic style that involved combining various materials and geometric shapes.The auction also featured artworks from exemplary Indian modernists such as Jamini Roy, M F Husain, S H Raza, F N Souza, Sadanand Bakre, Akbar Padamsee, Krishen Khanna, Avinash Chandra, Ram Kumar, K G Subramanyan, H A Gade, Jogen Chowdhury, GR Santosh, J Swaminathan, K Laxma Goud, K K Hebbar, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Bhupen Khakhar, Satish Gujaral, Sakti Burman, Manu Parekh, Paramjit Singh, among others. Previous record: Rs. 17,50,000Sold for: Rs. 20,69,538
