ONE OF INDIA’S LEADING SURREALIST ARTISTS: BIKASH BHATTACHARJEE

Bikash Bhattacharjee is considered among India’s leading surrealist artists. He was born in Bengal,studied at the Indian College of Arts and Draftsmanship, Kolkata. He went on to teach at his alma mater between 1968 to 1973, and thereafter at the Government College of Art & Craft until 1982. While many of his contemporaries severed ties from the canons of Western art, Bikash’s interest was rooted in academic realism, drawing inspiration from the European masters Vermeer and Rembrandt.

Bikash Bhattacharjee ranks No. 25 among Indian Art Investor’s Top 50 Artists with a total turnover of ??55 crores (US$9.2 M) against the sale of 225 artworks at auction. The primary medium for the artist has been dominated by oil, allowing him to create a powerful combination of realism and fantasy. He was known to have created a varied cast of characters like old men and women, children and house help with an unusual mixture of sensuality and spirituality. Bikash's other long-standing muse was his hometown, Kolkata, its cityscape and people forming the subject in a wide range of his works.

Oil has been the most popular medium of choice for the artist, contributing ?44 crores ($7.6 M) to the turnover against 127 works sold. The medium has contributed 80% of the total turnover generated by the artist. The average price for works in oil is ?34.6 lakhs ($59.6 K). Bhattacharjee’s works in oil are fairly in demand. His works in oil have contributed to 56.4% of the total number of his works sold.?

In terms of the best performing material, canvas has generated a turnover of ??46.7 crores ($7.9 M) with the sale of 129 works. The artist achieved an average price of approximately ?36.2 lakhs ($61.3 K) per work in this material. Works on canvas have significantly contributed 85% of his turnover. Out of the top 10 most expensive works of the artist, 9 works have been works on canvas.?

Bhattacharjee is known for his own version of surrealism which involves a message, a twist, a questioning of the normal realistic image. His works have a sense of formal clarity, and excellent execution with detailed textural and tonal compositions. While his work may not immediately make sense to the viewer, the artist makes the most mundane subject matter look vivid, and raises a lot of questions. The artist’s long history of appearances at auction and the overall performance makes his works a promising investment with good returns in the medium to long run.?

By Anshu Singh | Financial Knowledge Executive | Indian Art Investor