Important Notice

IN MEMORIAM:
SATISH GUJRAL (1925 2020)

An internationally acclaimed artist, muralist, sculptor, architect and writer, Satish Gujral was considered one of the pioneers of modernism in post-Independent India.

Gujral's pursuit of the arts began at the age of nine, after he suffered a hearing disability that prompted him to try his hand at drawing, painting and even reading Urdu literature. After meeting with the... IN MEMORIAM:
SATISH GUJRAL (1925 2020)

An internationally acclaimed artist, muralist, sculptor, architect and writer, Satish Gujral was considered one of the pioneers of modernism in post-Independent India.

Gujral's pursuit of the arts began at the age of nine, after he suffered a hearing disability that prompted him to try his hand at drawing, painting and even reading Urdu literature. After meeting with the Bombay Progressives in the 1940s, he realised his unique search for a modernist identity was more traditionally rooted, as opposed to the PAG's brand of modernism, which was inspired by European sensibilities and techniques. In this quest, he went to Mexico City on a scholarship in 1952 and apprenticed with renowned artists Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, and influenced by their muralist movement, began experimenting with the form himself.

The present lot was born out of Gujral's experiments with burnt wood after seeing the sculptural possibilities and rich tones of a burning log. Often abstract representations of deities, these works accentuate the deep black of the charred wood by contrasting it with shades of brown and gold. Through their textured, contoured formations and distinctive style, they demonstrate Gujral's versatility as an artist and sculptor.

In the decades that followed, Gujral had exhibitions around the world and won numerous national and international awards. He was a threetime National Award Winner for painting and sculpture, and the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 - the second highest civilian award in India. The Belgian government conferred upon him the 'Order of the Crown' for designing the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi, a building that was selected as one of 1000 outstanding buildings of the 20th century by an international jury.

The artist passed away on 26 March 2020, leaving behind a rich legacy that helped shape the canon of Indian art.

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