Osian's Auction Catalogue Indian Modern Contemporary Fine Arts | October 2018

Velu Viswanadhan b. 27 February 1940 Untitled Oil on cloth, c.1973 46.0 x 46.0 in (116.8 x 116.8 cm) ` 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 $ 13,890 – 20,830 Provenance Acquired from Chemould Art Gallery in 1997; thereafter acquired by Mumbai-based art collector from Osian’s 29th March 2007 Auction (Lot 66). 46 “Viswanadhan believes that ‘drawing the spirit from the matter’ has been the basis of his work on paper, canvas, and metal plate. This allows us to understand his continuing research and sensual interest in material. Such experimentation reveals the potential of his work’s support. The entire body is involved in working on a drawing or a painting as it moves back and forth through space to the paper or the canvas in order to become as completely familiar as possible with the surface being worked on.” Alberte Grynpas Nguyen [translated by Leonard Radlo], rpt. in Viswanadhan – NGMA ExC.1998; p10.) ‘Viswanadhan simultaneously draws while he paints and paints while he draws. What is not wished to be said is that he envisages his work on paper like sketches for their paintings, not like ‘drawings’ in the conventional sense. The artist searches rather well to attain a perfect fusion of the straight line, of the angle, the geometric motif, simple in general, with the course of temporary events, sometimes unpredictable, which punctuates this pictorial narration.’ Claude Boyeure rpt. in Viswanadhan V. – Vadehra Art Gallery ExC.1997. Detailed Artist Biography osianama.com/artists/ v-viswanadhan