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Lot 32

 

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Himmat Shah incorporates diverse influences in his work, drawing upon his personal history, as well as the collective narrative of civilisation. Born in 1933 in Lothal, Gujarat, close to ancient Harappan ruins, Shah's childhood was influenced by his exploration of caves and desert landscapes of Gujarat and Rajasthan. He trained at the J J School of Arts in Bombay and later in Baroda, followed by a scholarship in Paris. Shah was one of the early... Himmat Shah incorporates diverse influences in his work, drawing upon his personal history, as well as the collective narrative of civilisation. Born in 1933 in Lothal, Gujarat, close to ancient Harappan ruins, Shah's childhood was influenced by his exploration of caves and desert landscapes of Gujarat and Rajasthan. He trained at the J J School of Arts in Bombay and later in Baroda, followed by a scholarship in Paris. Shah was one of the early members of the artist collective Group 1890, making his mark with an exhibition in 1963 that showcased his drawings. Shah is primarily concerned with the effect that the human presence has upon the earth.

Head of a King carries hints of autobiographical details in its markings and wide open eyes. In his introductory essay to a 2007 exhibition of works by the artist, gallerist and writer Mortimer Chatterjee writes that "...in all his work, what haunts him is either the inscrutability and immensity of the world around us, or the figure of man looking at it in agony or wonder. In fact, the eyes that look out in wonder are none else but Himmat's own... Today that face has come up again, but now in sculptural form." (Himmat Shah: sculptures & drawings, Mumbai: Studio Confluence and ABN AMRO Private Banking, December 2007, unpaginated)

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