- Page Title
- Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art | Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art | Sotheby's
- Brand
- sothebys.com
- Type
- Other
- First Seen
- 2/25/2025
- Last Seen
- 3/17/2025
- Domain
- sothebys.com
- URL
- https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/modern-contemporary-south-asian-art?cmp=pso7000203601
- Description
- View Catalogue PDFThis March, Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art auction brings an exceptional selection of works that show the wildly creative and deeply innovative achievements of the region’s artists, including several discovery pieces.The sale is led by one of the largest-known Bird and Mountain series murals by Jagdish Swaminathan,Homage to Solzhenitzyn, spanning 13.5 feet. Painted in 1973 andacquired by an American diplomat shortly thereafter, this triptych is a spectacular vista of the artist’s cosmosthat illustrates kaleidoscopic rolling hills, birds and seed-like orbs set against a bright yellow sky, creating a true sense of joy and wonder.Fromthe Estate of Bhupen Khakhar comes a set of two double-sided cut-outs by Khakhar in collaboration with Vaman Rao Khaire depicting Bollywood’s shining stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. Emblematic of Khakhar’s embeddedness in pop culture and his idiosyncratic painting style, the cut-outs were specially created andexhibited at the Tate Modern’s inaugural exhibition in 2001,Century City: Art and Culture in the Modern Metropolis.The show explored artistic production in global, cosmopolitan cities such as Paris, New York, Vienna, Moscow, London, Lagos, Rios de Janeiro, Tokyo, and these stellar works were included in the Bombay/Mumbai section co-curated by Geeta Kapur and Ashish Rajadhyaksha.Another star lot of the sale isJourney of the Magi, a 1963 masterpiece by Jehangir Sabavala. Published across preeminent scholarship about the artist since 1966, this painting depicts an important symbol in Christianity and Zoroastrianism and is a key example of Sabavala’s expert handling of color and contour as he became interested in light and how to portray it.Among these works are highlights by South Asia’s most accomplished artists such asOriental City, a lively 1958 landscape on masonite by Francis Newton Souza, Dhanraj Bhagat’sShiva Dance, figurative works by Ganesh Pyne and Akbar Padamsee, an early, colorful work by Mohan Samant and a playful 1985 painting by Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar,Kites, formerly in The Times of India Group collection.Effective as of February 17, 2025, Buyer’s Premium rate for all auctions except Wine and Spirits is 27% of the Hammer Price for a Hammer Price up to and including $1,000,000, 22% of any amount of the Hammer Price in excess of $1,000,000 and up to and including $8,000,000, and 15% of any amount of the Hammer Price in excess of $8,000,000.For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:+1 212 606 7000enquiries@sothebys.comFor all other enquiries please contact:Manjari Sihare-SutinCo-Worldwide HeadModern and Contemporary South Asian Art+1 (212) 894 1983Manjari.Sihare@sothebys.comLily ZirlinCataloguerModern and Contemporary South Asian Art+1 (212) 894 1554Lily.Zirlin@sothebys.com
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