Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces Series | March 2010

87 The Masterpieces SerieS “The negative aspect in mankind is asserting once more and slowly we are drifting towards destruction. MX missiles and other nuclear weaponries are constantly being piled to be used against mankind. Are we slowly losing all possible means of understanding and negotiations? Cannot the world calmly resolve their differences? Must we allow ourselves to be entangled in yet another holocaust? These agitations are reflected in my recent water colour paintings…” – J. Sultan Ali, writing about his series Pramannu Darshan , rpt. in ‘Horrors of Atomic War and an Artist’s Vision of Transcendence: A Significant Series by J. Sultan Ali’, The Heritage , August 1988, pp.51-55. “Towards the end of the seventies, Sultan Ali’s symbols gradually began to dissolve: he reduced his imagery to more and more basic forms. ‘Why must I paint a bull as a symbol of energy?’, he said in those days. ‘Why can’t I paint energy itself?’…The theme of each of these paintings is destruction; yet each one of them invokes Mahayogi, the sage of goodness, who reminds mankind of peace, non-violence and calm.” – Editor, ‘Horrors of Atomic War and an Artist’s Vision of Transcendence: A Significant Series by J. Sultan Ali’, ibid 46 j. S ultan a li (1920 – 1990) Samundra No Prani Pramannu Series - Niryata-II Gouache on paper, 1978 Signed in Devanagari ‘Ali’ and S/d in English ‘Sultan Ali 1978’ l.r. Inscribed in English ‘PRAMANNU DARSHAN SERIES, J.SULTAN ALI, 42 x 57 cms 1978, SAMUNDRA NO PRANI’ on verso 16.2 x 22.2 in (41.1 x 56.5 cm) INR 520,000 – 780,000 US$ 10,830 – 16,250