MANJIT BAWA (1941-2008)

UNTITLED (GODDESS LAXMI)
OIL ON CANVAS
1990
SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE
59 X 36 INCHES

A SERENE FOUR-ARMED FEMALE FIGURE SEATED IN A RELAXED, HALF-LOTUS POSE ATOP A GENTLE WHITE ELEPHANT, SET AGAINST A SATURATED, LUMINOUS FIELD OF CRIMSON RED. ONE RAISED HAND DELICATELY HOLDS A PINK LOTUS BLOSSOM, WHILE THE OTHER HANDS FORM GRACEFUL MUDRA-LIKE GESTURES. THE FIGURE WEARS A SOFTLY STRIPED PINK DUPATTA AND LILAC-STRIPED DRAPERY, HER LONG DARK HAIR FRAMING A CALM, FRONTAL, ALMOST ICONIC FACE. A PALE CORAL SUN HOVERS IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER, ADDING A QUIET, CELESTIAL PRESENCE TO THE COMPOSITION.

RENDERED WITH BAWA'S SIGNATURE SMOOTH, FLUID CONTOURS, THE FORMS ARE SIMPLIFIED, SCULPTURAL AND WEIGHTLESS, THE ELEPHANT'S ROUNDED BODY AND SOFT PASTEL TONES CONTRASTING BEAUTIFULLY WITH THE INTENSE, FLAT RED GROUND. THE WORK EXEMPLIFIES THE ARTIST'S LYRICAL FUSION OF INDIAN MYTHOLOGY, MINIATURE PAINTING TRADITIONS AND SUFI AND SIKH SPIRITUALITY, IN WHICH HUMANS, DIVINE BEINGS AND ANIMALS COEXIST IN HARMONY WITHIN A DREAMLIKE, TIMELESS SPACE. THE LUMINOUS, MONOCHROMATIC COLOUR FIELD, A HALLMARK OF BAWA'S MATURE STYLE, GIVES THE PAINTING ITS MEDITATIVE, TRANSCENDENT QUALITY

THESE WORKS ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER, MUCH LIKE THOSE BY RENOWNED ARTISTS SUCH AS M.F. HUSAIN, S.H. RAZA, F.N. SOUZA, AKBAR PADAMSEE, HEMENDRANATH MAZUMDAR, RAM KUMAR, JAMINI ROY, B. PRABHA, TYEB MEHTA, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY ARE OFTEN SOLD BY AUCTIONEERS TO COLLECTORS AROUND THE GLOBE