During his immersion in the traditional culture of India at Santiniketan from 1983 to 1985, Tyeb Mehta transposes the epic deities into the contemporary world. His reprobation of violence becomes more effective. Faced with the decay of the notions of good and evil, India would need a return of Kali and Durga.
The racial and social riots that began in Mumbai at the end of 1992 and the very deadly attacks of March 1993 unfortunately give him reason. A client commissions him for an image of Durga Mahishasura Mardini, meaning Durga killer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
This acrylic on canvas 150 x 105 cm painted in 1993 is a masterpiece of the artist by the intense psychological relationship between the victorious woman and the dying beast, stronger than his desperate body-to-body fights and his endless falls. It is estimated INR 20 crores for sale by Sotheby's in Mumbai on November 29, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The buffalo is on the ground, offering its throat to the fatal blow prepared by the goddess with her arrow. It is not so simple. In mythology the monster makes incessant metamorphoses between his bestial and human forms. The imploring human hand raised on his right side belongs to him. Despite his filthy history he also deserves pity, like the ox at the slaughterhouse.
Durga is recognizable by her four arms that symbolize her omnipotence. She won the fight because it was absolutely necessary to do it but her expression is sad, as if she already knew that the death of the buffalo will not be enough for the redemption of modern India.
In his signature style, Tyeb executed a sharp line drawing around monochrome flat areas. He uses here the colors of the national flag as Miro had done in Spain against Franco in 1938. The monster is dark green, its additional arm is saffron and the bare skin of the goddess is almost white.
SOLD for INR 20.5 crores including premium
The racial and social riots that began in Mumbai at the end of 1992 and the very deadly attacks of March 1993 unfortunately give him reason. A client commissions him for an image of Durga Mahishasura Mardini, meaning Durga killer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
This acrylic on canvas 150 x 105 cm painted in 1993 is a masterpiece of the artist by the intense psychological relationship between the victorious woman and the dying beast, stronger than his desperate body-to-body fights and his endless falls. It is estimated INR 20 crores for sale by Sotheby's in Mumbai on November 29, lot 23. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The buffalo is on the ground, offering its throat to the fatal blow prepared by the goddess with her arrow. It is not so simple. In mythology the monster makes incessant metamorphoses between his bestial and human forms. The imploring human hand raised on his right side belongs to him. Despite his filthy history he also deserves pity, like the ox at the slaughterhouse.
Durga is recognizable by her four arms that symbolize her omnipotence. She won the fight because it was absolutely necessary to do it but her expression is sad, as if she already knew that the death of the buffalo will not be enough for the redemption of modern India.
In his signature style, Tyeb executed a sharp line drawing around monochrome flat areas. He uses here the colors of the national flag as Miro had done in Spain against Franco in 1938. The monster is dark green, its additional arm is saffron and the bare skin of the goddess is almost white.
SOLD for INR 20.5 crores including premium
Tyeb Mehta Leads Sotheby’s First Boundless India Sale https://t.co/nUdODSMDkU pic.twitter.com/o16LBry1uo
— Art Market Monitor (@artmarket) November 13, 2018
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