Hammer time

Trying to pin down the factors that make this art sale to be held in New York on September 15 potentially one of Christie’s strongest ever,Dr Hugo K Weihe,international specialist head,Indian and Southeast Asian Art,Christie’s,says,“This auction has the highest low/high estimate figures in the field to date and includes a very strong selection of iconic and exceptional works.” The canvases include an Untitled head study by the late F N Souza rendered in 1962,in the artist’s signature style that foregrounds the demonic side of mankind. The painting depicts a man in a suit,rendered with savage lines. The work is estimated at US$ 1,200,000 – 1,800,000.

The other significant work cited by Weihe and Sonal Singh,specialist,modern and contemporary Indian art,Christie’s,India,is the Bihar-born Subodh Gupta’s Two Milk Cans,a bronze,aluminium and chrome work that was made in 2005 in a limited edition of three works. This has been estimated at US$ 280,000 – $350,000. No auction is complete these days without a canvas by Paris-based,S H Raza,given his phenomenal sales record in the June auction where his painting Saurashtra fetched a stunning figure of 16 crores – a new record for both Indian art and Raza. This time Christie’s is offering La Terre— a 1985 canvas,valued between US$2,000,000 – $2,500,000. Atul Dodiya’s Karuna,a rare work which is inspired by cinema and done with unusual materials like enamel paint,synthetic varnish and acrylic on laminate will also feature in the auction. The work is part of a larger exhibition that Dodiya held at the Vadehra Art Gallery in 2007,titled Saptapadi: Scenes from Marriage (Regardless),and it references a montage of images from popular culture. It has been estimated at US$ 100,000 -150,000. There are also works by Manjit Bawa and Jamini Roy.

“In recent years,the growing affluence of Indians,and the increasingly important role of India on the global world stage have instilled in collectors a new confidence and appreciation of art – both for its cultural value and for its investment value,” says Singh. Both the Christie’s experts indicate that this growth is a steady one. Incidentally,the June sales in London brought in £12.4 million for their South Asian modern and contemporary art,including property from the estate of FN Souza. “This was our most valuable sale for this category in history,” says Weihe.