Exceptional Works by Notable Indian Modernists to Be Auctioned in the Upcoming 'Collectors Choice' Auction of Modern Indian Art by AstaGuru

On June 23-24, 2022, the next edition of AstaGuru's Modern Indian Art 'Collectors Choice' online auction will provide buyers with an exceptional chance to purchase masterpieces and rare works. While works by members of the Progressive Artists' Group continue to be highly regarded by collectors, they are delighted to broaden their art collection with notable pieces by other renowned names of Modern Indian Art.

The collection includes exceptional works by such renowned artists as Nicholas Roerich, Rabindranath Tagore, Amrita Sher- Gil, M V Dhurandhar, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, M F Hussain, S H Raza, F N Souza, Tyeb Mehta, Akbar Padamsee, Krishen Khanna, Arpita Singh, Sakti Burman, K K Hebbar, Bikash Bhattacharjee

"Our 'Collectors Choice' edition has become one of the most anticipated auctions among collectors," said Sunny Chandiramani, Vice President- Client Relations at AstaGuru Auction House. Due of the breadth and variety of its collection, it has constantly attracted a large audience. Since bidding begins at INR 20,000, the 'No Reserve' structure makes it more accessible for a greater number of collectors to participate in the auction. These paintings have been included in notable collections and represent key career achievements for the artists. Several of these unusual jewels are being offered for the first time at auction. The sale also includes sculptures by Prodosh Das Gupta, Sankho Chaudhuri, Himmat Shah, Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, K Laxmi Goud, P V Janakiram, and S Nandagopal, among others.

Lot no. 41, a piece by artist Tyeb Mehta, is the highlight of the superb lineup. The piece was completed around 1962, at a time when he was influenced by the figurative paintings of British artist Francis Bacon. Tyeb Mehta, who resided in London at the time, was also impacted by philosophical reflections on human fragility. Using a thick impasto technique and a limited colour pallet, the painting depicts a solitary, isolated individual. It will be auctioned for between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 INR.

Lot 164 is a work by the artist Arpita Singh titled 'Counting Flowers: My Benares Saree.' It exemplifies the artist's visual style and colour composition, as well as the recurring themes in her works, and was completed in 1997. It will be supplied with a price range of 80,000 to 1,000,000 INR.

Nicholas Roerich, one of India's 'Navratna' painters, is represented for the first time at an auction with lot no. 5, a stunning masterpiece. Roerich, affectionately known as the 'Master of Mountains,' was preeminently a symbolic painter, whose blue colours and white clouds of secrecy will long be engraved as stunning depictions of the Himalayan range. The estimated price range for this 1940s-era piece is INR 30,000,000 to 40,000,000.

1982 was the year when senior modernist Krishen Khanna developed Lot no. 52. Figurative and architectural shapes portrayed in a restricted colour palette demonstrate Krishen Khanna's mastery in painting techniques. This piece is believed to cost between 80,000,000 and 1,000,000 INR.

Shankara is the title of lot 146 by the renowned Indian modernist M F Husain. This piece depicting a person with a snake was formerly in the possession of M F Hussain's close friend and fellow artist Bal Chhabda. This piece was also included in a book named 'Husain: Contemporary Indian Art Series' published by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 1961. The monograph was titled 'Husain: Contemporary Indian Art Series' It will be supplied with a price range of 80,000 to 1,000,000 INR.

124 is a beautiful piece by the artist Jogen Chowdhury, who is renowned as the 'Master of Unbroken Lines.' This incredibly complicated cross-hatching piece represents a pair, a motif that recurs throughout the artist's works. It was executed using watercolour, pen, and coloured pencils on paper in 1990 and is estimated to fetch between INR 15,000 and 20,000.

A Bikash Bhattacharjee acrylic on canvas painting, lot number 125, will also be included at the auction. Taking a diversion from his hyper-realistic photography, the artist completed this piece with a distinctive style and flowing colours. The picture portrays a falling person and was created in 1993. In the 2019 edition of the India Art Fair, it was shown. It is believed to cost between 20,000 and 25,000 Indian Rupees.

Lot 163 is an original calligraphic work on paper by V S Gaitonde. The artist was profoundly inspired by Zen Buddhism, resulting in non-imitative, calligraphic, and hieroglyphic works. This 1985 job will be offered with an estimated price range of INR 20,000,000 to 25,000,000. The future auction includes two further pieces of similar design.

Lot no. 31 from the early years of the artist F N Souza demonstrates his obsession with the sensuous form influenced by ancient Indian cold stone sculptures. The roughly 1950 gouache on paper painting was once a part of the London collection of Julian Hartnoll Gallery, where it was again shown in 1997. It will be supplied with an estimated price range of 15,000 to 20,000 INR.

Lot 157 is a signature-style piece by S H Raza named 'Germination Red' that is being offered at auction for the first time. In S H Raza's geometric paintings, the 'Bindu' signifies the centre of the world and the origin of everything. Executed in the year 2000, this piece was included in The Arts Trust's 2020 online exhibition titled "Raza - Rendezvous: A Selection of Works from 1940 to 2000." The painting appeared in the show catalogue as well. It will be supplied with a price range of 20,000 to 30,000 INR.

The whole auction catalogue may be seen at www.astaguru.com, and the auction will be held on the site between June 23 and 24, 2022.

The AstaGuru

AstaGuru was conceived in 2008 with the express goal of developing a safe and secure online auction platform for Indian, Contemporary, and Modern art. The title AstaGuru is a deliberate combination of the Italian word 'Asta', which means auction, and the Sanskrit word 'Guru,' which means'master,' and signifies our mastery in auctioneering art and artefacts in India and across the world. AstaGuru has endeavoured to effectively bridge the gap between potential buyers and consignors by surpassing the restrictions of live auctions as the globe converges into a unified digital universe. AstaGuru makes the process of purchasing and selling art and rare items transparent with ease. Our collection comprises varied categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately, and Classic Cars. The mobile app for AstaGuru allows our valued bidders to follow and participate in our auctions in real time and without difficulty.