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

80 THE PASSIONATE DETACHMENT 40 J.SWAMINATHAN (1928 - 94) The Sign & the Altar Titled on reverse Oil & mixed media on canvas, c.1964 81.5 x 76 cm. (32.1 x 29.9”) 41 MEERA MUKHERJEE (1923 - 98) Building the Wheel Bronze, 1986 20.4 x 33.4 x 32.1 cm. (8.3 x 13.5 x 13”) Rs. 125,000 - 175,000 $ 2,660 - 3,725 “ The significance of a work of art - lies as so much in the image of reality that it may claim to present as in the reality of the image that it projects… The reality of the image in art derives from the same function as that of reality itself, i.e : to bring into being that which is not from elements which are. It is the organization of form by the rules of the artist‘s creative genius from the soma of his experience … The real struggle of the artist therefore lies in ‘unlearning’ tradition as much as avoiding the pitfalls of extant modes. It is only then that the incipient image directs him towards acquiring the rudiments of a style and a technique.” (J.Swaminathan, from art now in India ExC . 1965 ). “ The sculptures of Meera Mukherjee have always been a tremendously moving experience for the viewer. The rare and instinctive quality of romanticism is irrevocably reinforced by technical brilliance and expressive artistry… The ordinary men and women, the toiling masses are now a part of the well recognised Meera Mukherjee signature… Combining popular appeal with real artistic quality and purity of vision she has emerged as India’s Dickens of sculpture. Her art is immediately accessible. Diverting, yet intellectually demanding… The surface for her is never more important than form, the part never more telling than the whole… It is not the manual dexterity involved in the technicalities but the vision which creates the ecstasy of communication. Her sculpture always gives the impression of the whole thing driven as though by a single creative impulse.” (Maitreyi Chatterjee, rpt. in BAAC ExC . 1993 ). PAPR Lot 217 HT.ND/ 28.11.99 The Sign Oil on canvas, 1954 60 x 90 cm. ASP: Rs. 189,000/ $ 4,365 ($1 = Rs. 43.30) Lot 146 Bo.Lon/ 11.07.00 Signal Tablets Oil & mixed media on canvas, mid 1960s 137 x 179 cm. ASP: £ 10,000/ Rs. 670,000 ( £1 = Rs. 67) Rs. 275,000 - 350,000 $ 5,850 - 7,450