BEYOND CONVENTIONAL BOUNDARIES: REINTERPRETATION OF SPACES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART

Known for their experimental practices, contemporary artists in India are consistently pushing their boundaries to express their ideas. These innovative approaches have also led them to redefine the conventional representation of space. By employing different techniques such as foreshortening, optical illusion, and multiple viewpoints, these artists are playing with traditional perspectives to challenge the viewer's perception of space. Executed with a combination of flat, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional elements, such works emanate a sense of depth and spatial tension and offer immersive experiences that blur the distinction between physical and virtual spaces. At the same time, these artists are also reimagining landscapes and cityscapes through a striking and bold use of colour, form, and composition. Going beyond the concept of physical space, they also dwell and comment on non-physical spaces, such as memories, dreams, social dilemmas, or inner experiences, through the use of symbolism, metaphor, and abstraction. An extraordinary selection of such creations will be showcased in AstaGuru’s upcoming ‘Present Future’ Contemporary Indian Art auction. Here are some works that demonstrate how contemporary artists are using their canvases to reimagine spaces.

One of the most influential conceptual artists of our time, Anish Kapoor regularly references optics in his work, be it in smaller sculptures that feel more personal or creating gigantic versions of them that transform and engulf their surroundings. The above-presented lot comes from a series of work resulting from his experiment with resin sculptures that lies midway between painting and sculpture. Called Untitled Works, these works imitate flesh and are executed in a blood red that has come to be synonymous with the artist. The voids that he creates through optical illusions create both an abyss and the infinite, while his pieces often blend architectural structures with biological forms, creating a visual syntax truly his own. This work was executed in 2007 with resin and paint.

The above-presented work is by senior contemporary artist Sudhir Patwardhan, best known for his paintings documenting city life and its many people. His urban landscapes are a continuing fascination for the artist, seen in moments of transition and on large scale, both serene and foreboding. The heavily populated cityscapes he paints are reflective of his own experiences and are often seen with people who bustle in and out of the world he has created. He often combines the affluence of skyscrapers with the realities of poor households - the juxtaposition is an uncomfortable reminder of city life. Executed with Acrylic on paper in 2009, this work was showcased in a show titled Family Fiction: An exhibition of recent work by Sudhir Patwardhan,’ held at Sakshi Gallery in 2009.

This work comes from the oeuvre of Krishnaraj Chonat, a sculptor and installation artist known for using unique materials for his sculptures, like Sandalwood Soap and e-waste. He is committed to showcasing the impact of technology on our everyday life, and therefore his creations leave a long-lasting impression on people, instigating them to confront the harsh realities of living in luxury and the consequent environmental degradation. Executed with Steel, fibreglass, fake fur, automotive paint & plastic in 2007, this work was showcased in an exhibition titled ‘Passage to India’ at Initial Access in Wolverhampton, UK, in 2008.

In the above-presented work, the artist uses a digital photomontage to enquire about the growth disequilibrium between the rich and the poor world. The work was part of a site-specific installation for a museum in the United Kingdom. The artist has achieved this juxtaposition by taking a photograph from the museum window and then recreating it with the imagery of houses. He then pasted the outcome on the museum’s window he took the photo from. Titled ‘Copyright Violation Of A Stock-Photo,’ it is a large-scale work spanning 15 feet. The work was also showcased in an exhibition titled ‘Reflected Looking: Rashid Rana’ held at Nature Morte, New Delhi, in 2007.

The presented work is by artist Prasanta Sahu, whose works often reflect the socio-political happenings of the day. Sahu’s paintings, which function as social commentary, are drawn from personal experience. He uses ready images borrowed from myriad sources like newspapers or magazines. These images carry specific meanings in their own space and create an edgy co-existence of conflicting values when reorganised within vividly painted areas of the canvas.

With works from leading contemporary practitioners as well as younger generation artists, AstaGuru’s upcoming “Present Future’ Contemporary Art Auction has been finely curated to bring the best of prevalent trends in contemporary art space in India. The auction catalogue features an assortment of 125 artworks spanning mediums which include paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, as well as some vibrant examples of mixed media art. The auction is scheduled for February 15-16, 2023. Please visit the AstaGuru website to view the entire catalogue and register to bid today.

About AstaGuru:

AstaGuru was conceptualised in the year 2008 with the sole purpose of creating a safe and secure platform to conduct online auctions for Indian, Contemporary & Modern Art. The word AstaGuru is a thoughtful conjugation of ‘Asta’, of Italian origin, which translates to auction and ‘Guru’, Sanskrit connotation for ‘master’ that indicates our distinguished finesse at being the leaders of auctioneering art and artefacts in India as well as globally. With the world melting into one harmonious digital cosmos, AstaGuru has strived to successfully bridge the gap between prospective buyers and consignors by transcending the limitations of live auctions. AstaGuru imparts effortless transparency to the process of acquiring and selling art and rare collectibles. Our diverse portfolio includes categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately and Vintage Cars. AstaGuru’s mobile app enables our esteemed bidders to follow and participate in our auctions seamlessly, and in real time.