The Upcoming Edition of 'Present Future Auction' by AstaGuru Will Feature A Diverse Array Of Works By Prominent Contemporary Artists

The upcoming 'Present Future' Contemporary Art Auction by AstaGuru will feature pieces by a wide range of renowned artists, such as Anish Kapoor, Bharti Kher, Atul Dodiya, Jitish Kallat, Nataraj Sharma, Valay Shende, Suryakant Lokhande, Ranbir Singh Kaleka, Surendran Nair, Bose Krishnamachari, Jagannath Panda, Mithu Sen, Baiju Parthan, Chi With over a hundred paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces, this well chosen catalogue is a great reflection of current art trends and a glimpse into the future of contemporary art. On September 23rd and 24th, 2023, the auction will take place.

Ankita Talreja, executive vice president of AstaGuru Auction House, has said,

"We are delighted to showcase this remarkable collection of works by leading artists who are reshaping the narrative of modern Indian art. These experiential works have their origins in the creators' personal lives and cultural contexts, giving them a special combination of the particular and the general. They are illustrative of the wide range of subject matter and aesthetic approaches that characterise modern Indian art. The unique materials used by these artists also provide a fresh visual dimension to India's ever-changing contemporary art scene. Collectors who are always on the lookout for new ways to spice up their art collections have taken notice of these novel approaches."

Three pieces by acclaimed artist Anish Kapoor are up for bid at this year's auction. Lot 31 is a part of his famous series of stainless steel discs that resemble mirrors that he started making in the late '90s. The range of possible sales prices is between INR 3,32,00,000 and INR 4,98,00,000. The 'Mountain,' Lot No. 59, is one of several mountains he has shown in this prolific series.

Created in 1996 using acrylic on fibreboard, it is a remarkable example of Kapoor's mastery of the medium and his interest in exploring the effects of changing viewpoint. Price range is between 1,000,000 and 1,300,000. Lot 111 is an unnamed fibreglass and paint creation from 2012. This hemisphere-shaped building, which morphs as you approach and walk around it, is a stunning example of Kapoor's signature style of brightly coloured, hollow, bowl-like structures. The asking price is somewhere between INR 3,32,00,000 and INR 4,98,00,000.

'Seeing Some Things Better,' lot no. 73, is a bindi design created in the senior artist Bharti Kher's distinctive style. Carefully placed bindis of varying sizes and colours form constellations throughout the surface, giving the impression of depth and complexity. It's expected to sell for between INR 40,000 and 50,000.

In addition, three pieces in Valay Shende's distinctive style will be made available. These pieces, which are sculptures showing animals at life size, use bright colours and metallic tones to great effect. The projected selling price of lot no. 22, which was made in 2022 out of stainless steel discs and plated fibreglass, is somewhere between INR 15,000 and 20,000. Lot No. 100 is a stunning peacock sculpture that is expected to sell for between INR 30,00,000 and INR 40,000,000.

'Frozen Footnotes - 1' (Lot No. 8) by artist Jitish Kallat is a large-scale piece anticipated to sell for between INR 17,00,000 and INR 20,00,000. The auction also features two other artworks by the artist.

Artist Atul Dodiya originally garnered prominence in the 1990s for his works themed on Mahatma Gandhi, including Lot No. 15.  Since then, he has painted and worked in various media extensively on the subject of Gandhi, always providing a unique perspective. The price range for this 1998 watercolour on paper piece named "Gau-Raksha" is INR 15,00,000–20,00,000.

There will also be two pieces on display by Nalini Malani. 'Quietly Flows The River,' lot 52, is a fascinating work from her 'Living in Alicetime' series, which explores the complex dynamic between women and their environs through the lens of Lewis Carroll's most famous creation, Alice. The price range for this project is INR 15,00,000 20,00,000. Number 88 in the auction is a work by Malani titled "First Romance." Oil on canvas, 1981; approximate selling price, INR 15,000 to 20,000.

Sculptures from Mrinalini Mukherjee's groundbreaking 'Natural History' series may be found in lots 44 and 109. Each of these bronze creations comes with a price tag of between INR 8,00,000 and INR 10,000,000.

The 24-foot-tall masterpiece created by artist Baiju Parthan is another standout. The massive four-panel tetraptych titled "Gargoyle River" depicts a variety of situations, each rich in legendary allusions and historical detail. The range of expected sales prices for this piece is INR 30,000,000.

Nataraj Sharma's artwork, lot no. 95. In his six-foot tall painting titled "Sama Talav," the artist shows Lake Sama in the city of Vadodara. Priced between INR 30,00,000 and INR 35,00,000, it was completed in 2023 using acrylic on canvas.

Lot 106 is a stunning sculpture by Suryakant Lokhande depicting Lord Krishna playing the flute. The five-foot-tall picture, completed in his own manner and his favoured medium of high gloss oil on canvas, emanates an air of vitality and attracts onlookers to Krishna's melodic enchantment. Prices range from 8,000,000 to 12,000,000 INR.

The auction will present works by several other artists, including Lakshman Rao Kotturu, Shibu Natesan, Mousumi Biswas, Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi, Vasundhra Tewari Broota, Milburn Cherian, Nikhil Chaganlal, Dhananjay Singh, Hema Upadhyay, Schandra Singh, Gigi Scaria, Anjum Singh, Gieve Patel, A. Balasubramanian, Raqib Shaw, among others.