The Travelling Hammer

The last two years have not been the best for Osian’s,but the founder and chairman of the art organisation,Neville Tuli,is hopeful that 2012 will be more fruitful. After his Rs 102.4 crore art fund collapsed in 2009,plunging him into enormous debt,Tuli intends to put behind the past and be,once again,a forerunner in the art mart. “The Osian’s art fund will soon be wrapped up and the cultural complex,Osianama,will open in Delhi,” he announced on Friday evening,standing at the new site for the much-awaited integrated museum complex for film and arts. Located next to Qutub Minar at The Kila,the area is smaller than its original proposed site in Mumbai,but Tuli assures that it won’t be a disappointment. “With the use of modern technology,it will make a greater impact,” he stated,greeting guests present at the preview of the auction.

For his active return into the public realm,Tuli has chosen the route that he had pioneered. In 2000,with Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art Pvt Ltd,he launched India’s first indigenous auction house. He seems to be reverting to the earlier model of using profits from the auction house for other activities. Lined up next year are four auctions with collections classified according to the region. The beginning will be made with the works of artists from Bengal,which will come under the hammer at The Imperial hotel on December 15. After that,artwork from Mumbai and Baroda will be auctioned next month. Mumbai will see two auctions — artwork from Delhi and North India in March and Cholamandal and South India in May. “Neville does good work,” said noted artist Rameshwar Broota,pointing out that several “rare works” are part of the Bengal collection. He was in attendance at the Bengal auction preview along with artist wife Vasundhara Tewari,Jatin Das,Arpana Caur,Pooja and GR Iranna,fashion designers JJ Valaya and Ritu Kumar,socialites Ramola Bachchan and actor Nisha Singh.

“We hope to bring about a new energy in the market,” said the flamboyant art collector,running his eyes across the 134 lots on sale. Put together in the last six-eight months,the collection dates back to the 18th century and comprises works of European artists,traditional Bengali miniaturists,the Tagore brothers — Abanindranath,Gaganendranath and Rabindranath,apart from Jamini Roy,Chittaprosad,Somnath Hore,KG Subramanyan and Ganesh Pyne among others. The highlights include a 1913 Nandalal Bose tempera on silk estimated at Rs 60-90 lakh. “If the total sales are between Rs 11-13 crore,the auction would be a reasonable success. Beyond Rs 13 crore,it will be excellent,” observed Tuli. Will he manage to pay back his investors in the course of next year? “God willing,I can’t take any more damage,” he said.