Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series | October 2004

115 THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 76 Manu PAREKH [b . 1939, Ahmedabad, Gujarat] Benares Series S/d in English l.l. & on verso Oil on board, 1989 55.3 x 75.2 cm (21.8 x 29.6 in) Rs. 275,000 – 350,000 $ 5,950 – 7,550 £ 3,250 – 4,150 ‘When I first came to Varanasi, I now see, I must have been in search of certain landscapes; landscapes that would perhaps mimic the lights, the uncertainties and shadows of my personal inscape... There is a strange light over the waters in the bathing ghats which is a solarised, lateral inversion of the lights of the burning ghats and outbuildings at night. This shadow-play between decay and spirituality obtains nowhere else for me... If a paper-mirror is crumpled and held up to Varanasi, it would reflect a picture that would have a multiple focus and be coherent at the same time. That is my destination when I want to go home... After many years and many paintings I find that my search has just begun, the city of lights is within me, I am far, far, from home and time is running short.’ – Manu Parekh, rpt. in Manu Parekh: Vadehra Art Gallery 1992 ExC.