Osian's Auction Catalogue India The Passionate Detachment | February 2001

32 purity, is a most tortuous attitude, which few have sustained. Sooner or later, will must be transformed into idealism if that logic beyond the inner voice is also to be grasped with material clarity. This is the stage where creativity is motivated by a now seemingly more distant stubbornness, yet clearly real, facing a battle it is convinced is to be fought on terms which the logic of a material civilization dictates. The hope of allowing the spiritual and emotional aspect of idealism to dominate the day is overwhelmed by a clear awareness that creativity is at war with its surroundings. Sentimentality is immediately curbed, and then the task of harnessing the material logic into the poetic rhythms of idealism begins in earnest. The degree with which the compassion of idealism comes to discipline the sense of alienation becomes the tussle. To not be armed with the logic of materiality is not even considered. The works of Paritosh Sen (Lot 31), Gieve Patel (Lot 27), Sudhir Patwardhan (Lot 30 & 155), Vivan Sundaram (Lot 32 & 153), Navjot (Lot 28) and Krishen Khanna (Lot 156) ideally manifest this deep dilemma. Their images speak most clearly of the conflict every Arjuna faces and must resolve peacefully, while becoming a warrior for creativity and its aesthetics. Non-violence is thus deeply appreciated, and its potential in becoming part of a value-system clearer. However, at times the reaction against violence seems to cloud judgements regarding the viability of a non-violent daily life, especially in a country such as India. To maintain this passion for non- violence and still become a warrior - it is an eternal dilemma. Yet it must be continually tackled. Creativity provides the fullest freedom in seeking this aspiration towards fearlessness. That idealism’s imagination tempts, and a playful wisdom beckons just beyond, is the bait goodness dangles to a mind ready to abstain from battle, content to let history recognize the quiet wisdom of detached work. That Tradition has absorbed these struggles is understood by the artist, and with such comes the humility to surrender, convinced of the honesty sustained so far, and the futility of a fight beyond the war one wages within, in any corner, at any time, under any name, such as Jamini Roy. And so sooner or later every idea and trigger allows the creative act to germinate, and aesthetics takes on the glow that beauty is indeed possible and existent in every form. From Abanindranath Tagore (Lots 43, 52, 53 & 82) to K. G. Subramanyan (Lot 47), from M.F.Husain, Prabhakar Barwe (Lot 50) to Bhupen Khakhar (Lot 48), each with different aspects of the intuitive- logic dominating their energy, bridge all forms of life, absorbing, balancing and disciplining the moment, so as to harness it towards that rhythm which reflects the pace of daily breath or the walk through a park.