Osian's Auction Catalogue Masterpieces and Museum-Quality III | March 2004

159 MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY III 74 J. SULTAN ALI (1920-90 / b. Bombay, Maharashtra) Om Simha S/d in English and Signed in Devanagiri l.r. & inscribed on verso Oil on canvas, 1975 100.9 x 171.9 cm (39.7 x 67.7 in) Rs. 600,000 – 700,000 US$ 13,350 – 15,550 GB£ 7,300 – 8,550 OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [1992–2003] Present Estimate 223.24 Refer to Lot 73 “ The painting depicts the ever dominant force of Evil in the huge form of the bluish green monster… the human figure pressurising the natural evil human instincts by force and strength through the symbolic representation of ‘Simha’-the lion, to crush humanity which is weak and totally helpless…. Ultimately, it is only the Divine Spirit represented in the red circle on top which would finally help the humans to survive and conquer the evil from enveloping the entire Universe.” (Notes taken from Sultan Ali’s private diary.) “ Through the veil of beautiful colours, I would like my viewers to penetrate a little deeper into my paintings and see varied aspects of life… It’s not a world that is mythological or folkloristic nor exotic or anthropological; in it one sees universal values and vastness of life; its perils and trivialities. These are expressions of anxiety and hope as well, divulged from the recesses of my core. May be a little morbid and frightful… but their aesthetic tinge nevertheless dominates.” (J Sultan Ali, rpt. in Alliance Francaise EXC . Madras 1986.)