Energy Swirl

WHOEVER said abstraction was going out of style has a rethink coming. If SH Raza and Sujata Bajaj8217;s works and sales figures are any yar...

WHOEVER said abstraction was going out of style has a rethink coming. If SH Raza and Sujata Bajaj8217;s works and sales figures are any yardstick, spiritually driven abstract art is in.

While the senior painter hit a new high at the recent Saffron Art auction, clocking a new record at Rs 68 lakh, Bajaj has the Paris art scene buzzing after her solo Energie this summer at the Boulevard du Montparnasse. Once known as the bright disciple who had long-drawn conversations with her mentor SH Raza, today Bajaj has carved a niche for herself and can almost match strides with her guru.

With a show that was an absolute sell-out, the paintings, a suite of 20 mixed-media works priced between 1,000 and 2,000 euros Rs 50,000 to 1,07,000 commanded critical acclaim in many leading Paris dailies.

If it wasn8217;t her flair with collage work that drew admiration, it was the Devnagiri text whose calligraphic form has become Bajaj8217;s signature style. 8216;8216;People in Europe appreciate it if your art isn8217;t derivative and has a spirit of its own. Naturally it will reflect India, but it8217;s more than just exotic,8217;8217; says Bajaj, who was recently in Mumbai for a couple of group shows and of course Raza8217;s solo exhibition.

The gallery was alive not just on opening night, but all through the month. 8216;8216;It was heartening to see such a great response. It really puts Indian art in the spotlight in one of Europe8217;s art capitals,8217;8217; says Bajaj, who believes strongly in the universal nature of energy. Currently in Nimes, a small town south of France, Bajaj is fuelling up for her next big solo.

People in Europe appreciate it if your art has a spirit of its own. Naturally it will reflect India, but it8217;s more than just exotic

This time it will be Stavanger in Norway, her one-time 8216;home town8217;. The show will begin this month and carry on till August. And Bajaj has a gala opening planned8212;at least 5,000 guests will sail in on boats to touch port at Galleri Sult; a big banquet with the best of wines and cheeses; and, of course, the large canvases a rarity since Bajaj normally does mixed-media works on board.

Her dealers also plan to whisk her off to Paris in June for another small showing, though that one will be less extravagant. So when does she get the time to work? Must be used to burning the midnight oil.