Works by VS Gaitonde routinely set records at auctions, and another sort-of record was set last week when the artist’s Untitled, 1982 went under the hammer at Saffronart’s Evening Sale in Delhi. The painting sold for Rs 26.9 crore ($3.8 million), becoming “one of the top three most expensive works by the artist to be sold in India.”
The auction house hosted back-to-back live auctions through the day, achieving a combined sale value of Rs 59 crore (approximately $8.3 million). The Day Sale featured works from the estate of FN Souza, with 100 per cent of the lots getting sold.
The Gaitonde painting mentioned before was the star of the Evening Sale, which saw 88 per cent lots getting sold. Bhupen Khakhar’s Tradesman, 1986, “that was auctioned for the first time,” achieved the second highest value, selling at Rs 3.72 crores ($ 523,944).
Bhupen Khakhar’s Tradesman, 1986 achieved the second highest value, selling at Rs 3.72 crores. (Image: saffronart.com)
Commenting on the sales, Dinesh Vazirani, Saffronart's CEO and Co-Founder said, “We are extremely pleased by the response to both our live auctions. The Day Sale achieved a phenomenal 'white glove sale' result where 100 per cent of all the works from the Estate of F N Souza sold at strong prices; followed by the Evening Sale with VS Gaitonde's 1982 masterpiece taking its place among the top three highest value works to be sold by the artist in the country.”
ET Panache Dialogues: Bose Krishnamachari, GV Sanjay Reddy, Gayatri Ruia Talk Art
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For The Love Of Art
‘Has art become more inaccessible than ever? Has the exorbitant cost of acquiring art limited its appeal to only the uber wealthy?’
In the inaugural edition of ET Panache Dialogues, a series of panel discussions on relevant subjects, six esteemed guests spoke about the state of affairs of the art market. Snapshots from the session:
When: Friday, July 26, 2019 Location courtesy: Wine & Malt Lounge at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
High Tea
GV Sanjay Reddy (Vice Chairman, GVK), Bhushan Gagrani (Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra) and Dr Sabyasachi Mukherjee (director general, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya) caught up with each other over tea and coffee after arriving at the venue for the inaugural edition of ET Panache Dialogues.
Bringing Millennials Closer To Culture
Mukherjee and Reddy echoed similar thoughts about art playing an important part in aiding the younger generation’s search for a cultural identity. “The younger generation isn’t able to connect back to their identity as Indians,” Reddy said. “The only way that identity will return is when people start appreciating the wealth of knowledge, history, culture, the social fabric that we’ve had for centuries. Exposure to art is one way to bring it back.”
Is Art For The Elitist
‘Is art elitist?’ Perhaps. But it needed to become so for new art movements to emerge as a reaction. That was the view that Gagrani presented to his co-panelists. Artist Bose Krishnamachari joined Mukherjee, Gagrani and Reddy as the quartet warmed up for an engaging, hour-long conversation on art.
AR VS Art
Gagrani made a strong case for augmented reality in increasing accessibility to renowned art. “In the form of augmented reality, people can appreciate the art from their home or wherever they are regardless. That also is a part of art appreciation,” he said.
Agencies
