Works of Tyeb Mehta, other modernists fetch premium at Mumbai auction | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Works of Tyeb Mehta, other modernists fetch premium at Mumbai auction

ByKrutika Behrawala, Mumbai
Mar 17, 2018 05:19 PM IST

Going under the hammer were works by eminent modernists such as Jehangir Sabavala, Bhupen Khakhar, FN Souza and SH Raza

How much would you pay for Indian art? Last evening, Falling Bird, a 2002-2004 canvas by Tyeb Mehta, fetched 6.96 crore. The late artist took three years to complete the painting — human-bird hybrid. It was one of 65 masterpieces auctioned at Saffronart’s Evening Sale. The auction took place at The Four Seasons hotel, Worli.

A painting by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich(Saffronart)
A painting by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich(Saffronart)

Going under the hammer were works by eminent modernists such as Jehangir Sabavala, Bhupen Khakhar, FN Souza and SH Raza. The paintings and sculptures were on display at the auction house’s gallery in Prabhadevi for 12 days.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

While the winning bid for Falling Bird was made over the phone, prospective buyers bid in person and online from Kolkata, Bengaluru and New York.

Tyeb Mehta’s Falling bird fetched Rs6.96
Tyeb Mehta’s Falling bird fetched Rs6.96

“There has been a great level of interest in this sale,” said Hugo Weihe, CEO, Saffronart. “We’ve been able to source some exceptional works, which until now have only been part of private collections.”

Saffronart generated Rs27.6 crore through this auction. An untitled, signed work on paper by Jamini Roy was expected to fetch between Rs4 lakh and Rs6 lakh. But the bidding closed at Rs18 lakh. Most works, however, stayed within their estimated range.

Among prized paintings was Sabavala’s 1968 oil-on-canvas, The Star That Beckons. “This work drew me to this auction,” said Ushat Gulgule from Mumbai, who has been collecting artwork for the past 15 years. “I collect Sabavala’s works because they are rare.”

The Star That Beckons by Jehangir Sabavala
The Star That Beckons by Jehangir Sabavala

The stark, haunting landscape fetched Rs3.84 crore, against an estimated price of Rs3 crore.

Other works that generated interest were KG Subramanyan’s Janmashtami, a 2015 painting that celebrates birth of Krishna, which fetched 1.74 crore. And SH Raza’s Rajasthan IV, a 1961 oil on board, that went for 2.64 crore, over its estimate of Rs1.5 crore to Rs2 crore.

“A few years ago, art auctions only featured relatively known works and names. Now, it’s interesting to see that they’re focusing on lesser-known works. In this case, works by Tyeb Mehta and Meera Mukherjee. That’s exciting for me,” says Jesal Thacker, artist and founder, Bodhana Arts and Research Foundation, a non-profit that publishes books on art.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On