As the hammer came down at Pundole’s September auction on a large untitled oil on canvas from 1974 by Vasudeo Santu Gaitonde, it netted a whopping Rs. 32 crores or $5.02 million. Even in ordinary times the price commanded by the painting, originally estimated at Rs. 15-25 crores, was extraordinary. But doubly so in the midst of a Coronavirus pandemic, with worldwide GDP growth rates plummeting and the Indian economy in the doldrums – factors that normally would have cast a pall on the sale of premier works of art. Clearly, the calculated gamble that the Mumbai-based auction house had taken had paid off, with the work going to a buyer of Indian origin, based abroad.
This was the second auction that Pundole’s had conducted during the pandemic, having tested the waters a month earlier. According to Madiba Pundole, “What is significant about this one is that it broke the psychological barrier of $5 million for an Indian painting. This is the first time that Indian art has broken this barrier in a publicly recorded sale. These are psychological barriers that need to be broken from time to time.” It is perhaps serendipitous that the price was achieved for an artist that Pundole has steadfastly represented ever since they opened the doors of their gallery in the early 1960s.
Esta historia es de la edición December 2020 de Art India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 2020 de Art India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Parts, Wholes And The Spaces In Between
Sonal Sundararajan introduces Samira Rathod's free-spirited and rebellious explorations in the world of architecture, furniture and design.
"The Fine Art of Going to the Pictures."
Dr. Banerjee in Dr. Kulkarni's Nursing Home at Chemould Prescott Road brings together 26 paintings featuring a series of dramatic scenes from Hindi and Bengali films. In conversation with Abhay Sardesai, artist Atul Dodiya talks about childhood trips to movie halls, painted figures gripped by tension, and the closeness and remoteness of cinematic images.
"To Finally Have Something of Your Own to Mine."
Dayanita Singh is the recipient of the coveted 2022 Hasselblad Award. Keeping the photograph at the centre, she speaks to Shreevatsa Nevatia about books, book objects, photo novels, exhibitions and museums.
OF DIVINE LOSS
Shaurya Kumar explores the relationship between the subject and object of devotion, finds Aranya.
THE PAST AND ITS SHADOWS
Neha Mitra visits two shows and three artists in Mumbai.
FORCE OF NATURE
Alwar Balasubramaniam dwells on absences and ephemeralities in his new work, states Meera Menezes.
SHAPES OF WATER
Devika Sundar's works delineate the murky, malleable boundaries between the human body and the organic world, says Joshua Muyiwa.
INTIMATIONS OF INTIMACY
Sunil Gupta shares his journey with Gautami Reddy.
THE FRACTURED PROSPECT
Nocturnal landscapes as ruins in the making? Adwait Singh looks at Biraaj Dodiya's scenes of loss.
TEETERING BEYOND OUR GRASP
Meera Menezes traces Mahesh Baliga's journey from Moodabidri to London.