CREATIVE CIRCUIT: THE ART OF K G SUBRAMANYAN (19-20 JANUARY 2021)

ab

55

a) Untitled
Circa 1990s
Watercolour on paper
10.5 x 14.5 in (26.6 x 36.8 cm)

b) Untitled
Circa 1990s
Watercolour on paper
10.5 x 14.5 in (26.6 x 36.8 cm)

$5,560 ‒ 8,335
Rs 4,00,000 ‒ 6,00,000
(Set of two)

“Ahumanist and idealist, Subramanyan calls for more than sensitive art production ‒ he promotes a larger overhaul
of society. Always timely in his concerns, Subramanyan urges us to create what he calls an ‘ecology of culture’,
which he likens to the preservation of natural resources. Just as people are now concerned with the health and
sustenance of the natural environment, Subramanyan believes they need to be equally devoted to preserving a culture
that is meaningful, nourishing, relevant and alive and well to enrich the larger society and the lives of its inhabitants. In
his vision, art has a vital role to play and is not isolated and specialized, related only to the elite and indulgent few. Rather,
it is an essential part of society, connecting and speaking for and to a community, communicating its identity, beliefs,
hopes and larger perspectives of its experiences locally and within the larger world.” (Margaret Richardson, “Articulating
a Polymorphic Vision,” The Aesthetic Vision of K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 2013, p. 150)

101

a 56

b a) Untitled
102
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1986
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 125

b) Untitled

Initialled in Tamil (centre left)
1986
Watercolour on card
5.5 x 3.9 in (14.2 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 138

$2,085 ‒ 3,475
Rs 1,50,000 ‒ 2,50,000

(Set of two)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

a

57 b

a) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on paper
11 x 8 in (27.9 x 20.3 cm)

b) Untitled
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on paper
12.5 x 7.5 in (31.7 x 19 cm)

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

(Set of two)

“My sketches and doodles do not always have a pointed object reference.
Rather, they are inmates of the mind’s menagerie, choreographed in various
ways, moving effortlessly from mime to caricature. Then to burlesque and
fantasy. Undergoing various metamorphoses.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

103

58 e) Untitled

a) Untitled Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Initialled in Tamil (centre left) 1980
1980 Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card 5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm)
5.7 x 3.9 in (14.7 x 10.1 cm)
PUBLISHED
(Study for reverse painting on acrylic sheet)
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
PUBLISHED Seagull Books, 1999, p. 30
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 26 f) Untitled

b) Untitled Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Initialled in Tamil (lower left) 1980
1980 Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card 5.7 x 3.9 in (14.6 x 10.1 cm)
5.7 x 3.9 in (14.7 x 10.1 cm)
PUBLISHED
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 28 Seagull Books, 1999, p. 26

c) Untitled $8,335 ‒ 11,115
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Rs 6,00,000 ‒ 8,00,000
1980
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card (Set of six)
5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm)
EXHIBITED
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 27 Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
d) Untitled India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Initialled in Tamil (lower left) Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
1980 Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
5.7 x 3.9 in (14.7 x 10.1 cm) September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
PUBLISHED Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 30 Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

104

a bc

d ef

105

a 59

b a) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
c Circa 1980s
106 Brush and ink on card
5.5 x 3.9 in (14.2 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull
Books, 1999, p. 140

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
Circa 1980s
Brush and ink on card
5.5 x 3.9 in (14.2 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull
Books, 1999, p. 140

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Circa 1980s
Brush and ink on card
5.5 x 3.9 in (14.2 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull
Books, 1999, p. 139

$3,475 ‒ 4,865
Rs 2,50,000 ‒ 3,50,000

(Set of two)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull Foundation
for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, 29
November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi: India House, 10 ‒ 18
April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒
14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2
‒ 11 September 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre,
23 September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery, 15
‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre,
6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana,
5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington Street Arts Centre,
18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal: Modern Art Gallery, Bharat
Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016; Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi,
24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29
August 2016; Guwahati: Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society,
1 ‒ 20 November 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May
2017; Panaji: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

1967
A portrait made in Japan
Personal album of K G Subramanyan

107

60 e) Untitled

a) Untitled Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) 1985
1985 Brush and ink on card
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card 5.6 x 3.9 in (14.4 x 10.1 cm)
5.6 x 4 in (14.4 x 10.2 cm)
PUBLISHED
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 42 Seagull Books, 1999, p. 43

b) Untitled $5,560 ‒ 8,335
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Rs 4,00,000 ‒ 6,00,000
1985
Brush and ink on card (Set of five)
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.4 x 10.1 cm)
EXHIBITED
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 43 Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
c) Untitled India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
1985 Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
Brush and ink on card 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
5.7 x 4 in (14.5 x 10.2 cm) September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
PUBLISHED Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 44 Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
d) Untitled Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
1985 Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
Ballpoint pen and ink wash on card 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
5.5 x 4 in (14.2 x 10.2 cm) Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 40

“Subramanyan’s contact with surface, whether through brush, tool or hand, is always light. Just as his eye does not
probe ‒ it receives signals quickly ‒ it follows that laying out of surface and contour is rapid, no time is spent
obscuring the process. This preference was developed from an apprenticeship at Santiniketan and the influence of far
eastern work ethics: of working spontaneously and discarding whatever is deficient or in appropriate, of the calligraphic
principle as a life‒force embodying energy, and as a forming device.” (Nilima Sheikh, “A Post‒Independence Initiative in
Art,” Contemporary Art in Baroda, New Delhi: Tulika, 1997, p. 120)

108

ab
cd

e

109

a
b

61 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
1982 Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Ink and watercolour on paper Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
7.4 x 9.8 in (18.7 x 24.8 cm) India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
PUBLISHED Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 23 September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
b) Untitled Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
1982 Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on paper Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
8.6 x 7.8 in (22 x 20 cm) Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
(Study for reverse painting on acrylic sheet) Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
PUBLISHED 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 261

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of two)

110

62 a
b
a) Untitled c
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 132

b) Untitled
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 136

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 261

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of three)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

111

63 d) Untitled

a) Untitled Circa 1980s
Initialled in Tamil (lower left) Watercolour on card
Circa 1980s 5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm)
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm) PUBLISHED

PUBLISHED K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, p. 143
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 133
$5,560 ‒ 8,335
b) Untitled Rs 4,00,000 ‒ 6,00,000
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
Circa 1980s (Set of four)
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm) EXHIBITED

PUBLISHED Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 135 Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
c) Untitled Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Circa 1980s Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
Watercolour on card 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
5.6 x 3.9 in (14.3 x 10.1 cm) September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
PUBLISHED Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 136 Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

“In our normal perception, we go from the known to the unknown and, in the
process, we apprehend the similarities and dissimilarities of things, compare
experiences and then identify them. In scientific and pragmatic vision, once
the identification is done, then intermediate readings get wiped out. But not
in art or our creative imagination. Here, each reading or misreading has an
emotional value. And together they make a large body of image composites.
Forming visual metaphors, figures of speech and figures of thought. Which
form a large part of the matrix of creative expression and give it its basic
vitality.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

112

ab

cd

113

The subjects of the present lot are Baul musicians, whose musical lineage is a long‒standing one in Bengal history.

64

a) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (centre left)
1984‒85
Pen and ink wash on paper
10.5 x 6.8 in (26.8 x 17.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999,
p. 182

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1984‒85

a Pen and ink wash on paper
10.5 x 6.8 in (26.8 x 17.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999,
p. 184

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre)
1984‒85
Pen and ink wash on paper
10.5 x 6.8 in (26.7 x 17.4 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999,
p. 185

b $4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of three)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts at
Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014;
Abu Dhabi: India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural
Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2
‒ 11 September 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23 September
‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery, 15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai:
Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan
Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington Street Arts
Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal: Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan,
18 March ‒ 17 April 2016; Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati: Srimanti Sankaradeva
Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19
c May 2017; Panaji: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

114

65

Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1984‒85
Pen and ink wash on paper
10.5 x 6.25 in (26.7 x 16 cm)
$1,390 ‒ 2,780
Rs 1,00,000 ‒ 2,00,000
This lot is offered at
NO RESERVE

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, 29
November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi: India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation,
15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 23 September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery, 15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington Street Arts
Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal: Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016; Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala
Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati: Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra
Society, 1 ‒ 20 November 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, p. 181

115

66 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre) Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Circa 1980s Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
Brush and ink on card India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm) Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
PUBLISHED 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 104 15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
b) Untitled Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Circa 1980s Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Brush and ink on card Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
5.7 x 4 in (14.5 x 10.2 cm) Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
PUBLISHED 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 105

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (centre left)
Circa 1980s
Brush and ink on card
5.7 x 4 in (14.5 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 105

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1986
Brush and ink on card
5.6 x 4 in (14.4 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 106

$2,780 ‒ 4,170
Rs 2,00,000 ‒ 3,00,000

(Set of four)

116

ab

cd

“Having appropriated the various ways of representation that history has provided, Subramanyan—like all artists
who have great mastery over language—can make even simple representational expressions appear magical,
charged with what he calls ‘the magic of making’. This versatility predisposes him to perceiving aspects of the world
and articulating them with a kind of lucidity that borders on total spontaneity.” (R Siva Kumar, “Painting a Picture of the
World,” Magnificent 7, Vadodara: VADFest, 2015)

117

67 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘88’ (lower left) Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
1988 Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
Ink and watercolour on card India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
4 x 5.75 in (10.2 x 14.6 cm) Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
PUBLISHED 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 100 15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
b) Untitled Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘88’ (lower left) Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
1988 Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Brush and ink on card Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
5.5 x 4 in (13.9 x 10.1 cm) Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
PUBLISHED 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 102

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘88’ (centre left)
1988
Brush and ink on card
4 x 5.5 in (10.1 x 13.9 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 102

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘88’ (lower right)
1988
Ink and watercolour on card
4 x 5.5 in (10.2 x 13.9 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 100

$2,780 ‒ 4,170
Rs 2,00,000 ‒ 3,00,000

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

(Set of four)

118

a
b

c

d
119

a 68

b a) Untitled
Circa 1980s
c Watercolour on card
120 5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 142

b) Untitled
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 142

c) Untitled
Circa 1980s
Watercolour on card
5.6 x 4 in (14.3 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 143

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of three)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017

ab

69 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
Circa 1980s Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Watercolour on paper Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
7.2 x 5 in (18.5 x 12.9 cm) India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
PUBLISHED Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 145 September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
b) Untitled Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
Circa 1980s Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Watercolour on paper Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
7.2 x 5 in (18.4 x 12.9 cm) Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
PUBLISHED Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 146 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
$2,780 ‒ 4,170
Rs 2,00,000 ‒ 3,00,000

(Set of two)

121

a 70

b a) Untitled
122
1986
Watercolour on paper
15.5 x 12.5 in (39.3 x 31.7 cm)

b) Untitled

Initialled in Tamil (lower centre)
1986
Ink on paper
8.5 x 7 in (21.5 x 17.7 cm)

EXHIBITED
Drawings of Women, presented by
The Seagull Foundation for the Arts
at Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February
2017; Patna: Bihar Museum, 3 ‒
16 November 2017; Kolkata: Birla
Academy of Art and Culture,
14 March ‒ 14 April 2018; New
Delhi: Art Heritage, 13 August ‒
9 September 2018; Hyderabad:
Kalakriti Art Gallery, 20 October ‒ 1
November 2018; Ahmedabad: L&P
Hutheesingh Visual Art Centre, 20
November ‒ 2 December 2018

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

This lot is offered at
NO RESERVE

(Set of two)

PUBLISHED
R Siva Kumar, Women Seen and
Remembered: Drawings of Women by
K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull
Books, 2017, p. 94

71 a
b
a) Untitled c
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1987
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on card
5.5 x 4 in (14.2 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
Subramanyan, K.G. Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings. Calcutta:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 189

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1987
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on card
5.5 x 4 in (14.2 x 10.1 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 188

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1987
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on card
5.5 x 4 in (14.2 x 10.2 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 190

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of three)

EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull Foundation for
the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, 29 November
‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi: India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015;
Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015;
Bhubaneswar: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23 September ‒ 3
October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery, 15 ‒ 21 December 2015;
Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016;
Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016;
Kolkata: The Harrington Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March
2016; Bhopal: Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17
April 2016; Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati: Srimanti
Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November 2016; Ernakulam:
Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31
October 2017

123

124

MOVING FOCUS
(1990s)

SANTINIKETAN

LOTS 72‒95

Closing Time: Wednesday, 20 January 2021

8.45 pm (IST)
10.15 am (US Eastern Time)

125

72 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull
1989 Foundation for the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of
Watercolour on paper Modern Art, 29 November ‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi:
11.75 x 14.25 in (29.8.1 x 36.1 cm) India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015; Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al
Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015; Bhubaneswar:
PUBLISHED Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 194 September ‒ 3 October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery,
15 ‒ 21 December 2015; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional
b) Untitled Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery,
1989 Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016; Kolkata: The Harrington
Watercolour on paper Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March 2016; Bhopal:
11.75 x 14.25 in (29.8.1 x 36.1 cm) Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17 April 2016;
Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
PUBLISHED Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati:
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: Srimanti Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 195 2016; Ernakulam: Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji:
Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31 October 2017
c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1989
Watercolour on paper
7 x 10.5 in (18 x 26.7 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 198

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1989
Watercolour on paper
7 x 10.5 in (18 x 26.7 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata:
Seagull Books, 1999, p. 199

$11,115 ‒ 13,890
Rs 8,00,000 ‒ 10,00,000

(Set of four)

126

c

a

d

b

“Durga … has various versions ranging from an elegant household deity,
almost close of kin, to a multi‒armed war goddess who rides a lion or tiger
and fights and slays the buffalo demon. The earlier beasts symbolise the
positive powers that fire and support are initiatives, the later one a negative
one or inertia. These images certainly have their origins in common facts
observed in town or village. The vision of an able‒bodied woman from a Jat
village control a run‒away buffalo calf or a wiry Bengali villager do the same
with more physical skill than strength give you two image sources for the
Durga figure.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

127

73 EXHIBITED
Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, presented by The Seagull Foundation for
a) Untitled the Arts at Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, 29 November
‒ 15 December 2014; Abu Dhabi: India House, 10 ‒ 18 April 2015;
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘89’ (lower right) Dubai: Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, 15 ‒ 14 April 2015;
1989 Bhubaneswar: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, 2 ‒ 11 September
Watercolour on card 2015; Lucknow: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 23 September ‒ 3
5.25 x 7.5 in (13.3 x 19 cm) October 2015; Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery, 15 ‒ 21 December 2015;
Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, 6 ‒ 16 January 2016;
PUBLISHED Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2016;
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings, Kolkata: The Harrington Street Arts Centre, 18 February ‒ 5 March
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, pp. 196‒197 2016; Bhopal: Modern Art Gallery, Bharat Bhawan, 18 March ‒ 17
April 2016; Patna: Bihar Lalit Kala Akademi, 24 June ‒ 5 July 2016; New
b) Untitled Delhi: Aakriti Art Gallery, 30 July ‒ 29 August 2016; Guwahati: Srimanti
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘89’ (lower right) Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society, 1 ‒ 20 November 2016; Ernakulam:
1989 Durbar Hall, 19 April ‒ 19 May 2017; Panaji: Sanskruti Bhavan, 5 ‒ 31
Watercolour on card October 2017
5.25 x 7.5 in (13.3 x 19 cm)
a
PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings,
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, p. 202

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre)
1989
Watercolour on card
7.25 x 10 in (18.4 x 25.5 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings,
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, p. 201

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1989
Watercolour on card
7.25 x 10 in (18.4 x 25.5 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Sketches, Scribbles, Drawings,
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 1999, p. 200

$9,725 ‒ 12,500
Rs 7,00,000 ‒ 9,00,000

(Set of four)

b
128

c

d
129

a

74 b

a) Untitled EXHIBITED
1999 Drawings of Women, presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts
Watercolour on paper at Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2017;
11.5 x 14.5 in (29.2 x 36.8 cm) Patna: Bihar Museum, 3 ‒ 16 November 2017; Kolkata: Birla Academy of
Art and Culture, 14 March ‒ 14 April 2018; New Delhi: Art Heritage, 13
PUBLISHED August ‒ 9 September 2018; Hyderabad: Kalakriti Art Gallery, 20 October
R Siva Kumar, Women Seen and Remembered: ‒ 1 November 2018; Ahmedabad: L&P Hutheesingh Visual Art Centre, 20
Drawings of Women by K G Subramanyan, November ‒ 2 December 2018 (a)
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 2017, p. 125

b) Untitled
Circa 1990s
Gouache on paper
12.75 x 7.5 in (31.7 x 19 cm)

c) Untitled
Circa 1990s
Watercolour on paper
13 x 8 in (33 x 20.3 cm)

$6,945 ‒ 9,725
Rs 5,00,000 ‒ 7,00,000

(Set of three)

130

c

“Subramanyan’s understanding of art as a kind of linguistic system allows him to envision a living tradition in which
artists constantly renew traditional as well as modern forms by not only accepting the eclectic nature of the
‘modern’ world but also by maintaining contact with the world. Through such a model, Subramanyan is able to address
the issues of his Indian mentors while absorbing influences from outside India, like the ideas of Gombrich.” (Margaret
Richardson, “Conclusion: An Artist of Modern Life,” The Aesthetic Vision of K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Books,
2013, p. 157)

131

2008
K G Subramanyan attending the opening of his exhibition
Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata
Photograph by Bishan Sammadar

“When we first come across things, all our flags are flying and all our sensors
turned on. When we get to know them and decide their relations to us,
we reduce them to codes. We normally inhabit this world of codes. And
naturally. If it is a new encounter every time, needing fresh recognition,
reaction, reappraisal and docketing, we could not have progressed at
the pace we have, nor amassed and preserved the enormous body of
experiences that we have. The codes have made this easy. But, for all their
usefulness, these codes can die or lose meaning if they are not reconnected
to primary experiences or recharged by fresh sensory exposure. Or retested
by new circumstances. So this effort has to continue. And this has a moral
dimension, for it emphasizes the necessity of art.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

132

75 EXHIBITED
K G Subramanyan: A Retrospective, New Delhi: National
Untitled Gallery of Modern Art, 30 January ‒ 16 March 2003

Initialled in Tamil (lower right) 133
Circa 2000s
Reverse painting on acrylic
24 x 18 in (61 x 45.7 cm)

$8,335 ‒ 11,115
Rs 6,00,000 ‒ 8,00,000

76 EXHIBITED
K G Subramanyan: A Retrospective, New Delhi: National
Untitled Gallery of Modern Art, 30 January ‒ 16 March 2003
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1998 PUBLISHED
Reverse painting on acrylic K G Subramanyan: A Retrospective, New Delhi: National
24 x 18 in (61 x 45.7 cm) Gallery of Modern Art, 2003, p. 184
$11,115 ‒ 13,890
Rs 8,00,000 ‒ 10,00,000

134

77 EXHIBITED
K G Subramanyan: A Retrospective, New Delhi: National
Lami Town Gallery of Modern Art, 30 January ‒ 16 March 2003
PUBLISHED
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) K G Subramanyan: A Retrospective, New Delhi: National
1998 Gallery of Modern Art, 2003, p. 184
Reverse painting on acrylic
20 x 18 in (50.8 x 45.7 cm) 135

$16,670 ‒ 25,000
Rs 12,00,000 ‒ 18,00,000

78

Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
Circa 1990s
Gouache on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.7 x 19.7 cm)
$1,390 ‒ 2,780
Rs 1,00,000 ‒ 2,00,000
This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

“I do not want to be oppressed by the feeling that Art is long, life is short. Life
is certainly short; even a long life is not long enough for us to achieve what all
we want. But the language of art should come naturally out of our responses
to our environment and our inner vision with ease and spontaneity. Each
artist is tuned in a special way for this; his initial effort is to discover this. But
once he discovers this, he is bound to have a sense of freedom. The problem
arises when you go against your grain; and try to achieve things that strains
your competence.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

136

a b
c
79

a) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil and dated ‘99’ (lower right)
1999
Watercolour on paper
9.25 x 6.5 in (23.4 x 16.5 cm)

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil dated ‘99’ (lower right)
1999
Watercolour on paper
8.5 x 6.25 in (21.5 x 15.8 cm)

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil dated ‘99’ (lower centre)
1999
Brown paper cutout and watercolour on paper
8.5 x 6.25 in (21.5 x 15.8 cm)

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

(Set of three)

137

a

b

80 EXHIBITED

a) Untitled Drawings of Women, presented by The Seagull Foundation for the
Initialled in Tamil (lower left and lower center) Arts at Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February
and inscribed ‘Queen of Spades’ (lower center) 2017; Patna: Bihar Museum, 3 ‒ 16 November 2017; Kolkata: Birla
and ‘Queen of Diamonds’ (lower right) Academy of Art and Culture, 14 March ‒ 14 April 2018; New Delhi:
1994 Art Heritage, 13 August ‒ 9 September 2018; Hyderabad: Kalakriti
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on paper Art Gallery, 20 October ‒ 1 November 2018; Ahmedabad: L&P
4 x 7 in (10.1 x 17.7 cm) Hutheesingh Visual Art Centre, 20 November ‒ 2 December 2018

b) Untitled PUBLISHED
Initialled in Tamil (lower left and lower center)
and inscribed ‘Queen of Hearts’ (lower center) R Siva Kumar, Women Seen and Remembered: Drawings of Women
and ‘Queen of Clubs’ (lower right) by K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Books, 2017, p. 127
1994
Ballpoint pen and watercolour on paper
4 x 7 in (10.1 x 17.7 cm)

$4,865 ‒ 6,250
Rs 3,50,000 ‒ 4,50,000

This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

(Set of two)

138

81

Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre)
1999
Watercolour on paper
9.5 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)
$1,390 ‒ 2,780
Rs 1,00,000 ‒ 2,00,000
This lot is offered at NO RESERVE

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Drawings, Mumbai: The Guild, 2010, p. 104

139

140

82 EXHIBITED
New Works: K G Subramanyan, New Delhi: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, 13
Flying Devi ‒ 25 March 2014; Hyderabad: Salar Jung Museum, 26 July ‒ 16 August 2014; Kochi: Lalit
Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, August 2014; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Centre, September 2014; Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, November
2013 2014; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2015; Kolkata: The
Reverse painting on acrylic Harrington Street Arts Centre, 18 ‒ 25 February 2015
36 x 36 in (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
PUBLISHED
$34,725 ‒ 48,615 New Works: K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Foundation for the Arts, 2014
Rs 25,00,000 ‒ 35,00,000

“In the way I do reverse paintings, all changes and improvisations pertain
to the early stages where I use water colours. Here I can change, even wipe
out images, introduce new details. In the later stage where I back or lock the
water‒colour image with oil colours my improvisations are confined to the
use of colour.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

141

142

83 EXHIBITED
New Works: K G Subramanyan, New Delhi: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, 13
Bird Spirits and Flayed Buffalo ‒ 25 March 2014; Hyderabad: Salar Jung Museum, 26 July ‒ 16 August 2014; Kochi: Lalit
Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, August 2014; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional
Initialled in Tamil (lower right) Centre, September 2014; Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, November
2013 2014; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2015; Kolkata: The
Reverse painting on acrylic Harrington Street Arts Centre, 18 ‒ 25 February 2015
36 x 36 in (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
PUBLISHED
$34,725 ‒ 48,615 New Works: K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Foundation for the Arts, 2014
Rs 25,00,000 ‒ 35,00,000

“Subramanyan’s reverse paintings on glass and acrylic, made in several phases since 1979, are funny, flamboyant,
malicious, seductive […]They capture a pervasive sensuousness that is no longer a hide‒and‒seek of phantoms
but of characters in a masquerade. There is a conspicuous close‒up of figures and objects clutched together in a sparkling
focus.” (Geeta Kapur, “Mid‒Century Ironies: K G Subramanyan,” When Was Modernism, New Delhi: Tulika, 2000, pp.
125‒126)

143

84 a
b
a) Untitled c
1999
Gouache on paper
9.50 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Drawings, Mumbai:
The Guild, 2010, p. 347

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1999
Gouache on paper
9.50 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Drawings, Mumbai:
The Guild, 2010, p. 354

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre)
1999
Gouache on paper
9.50 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Drawings, Mumbai:
The Guild, 2010, p. 354

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower right)
1999
Gouache on paper
9.50 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)

PUBLISHED
K G Subramanyan, Drawings, Mumbai:
The Guild, 2010, p. 347

e) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1999
Gouache on paper
9.50 x 10.75 in (24.1 x 27.3 cm)

$11,115 ‒ 13,890
Rs 8,00,000 ‒ 10,00,000
(Set of five)

144

d

e

“I am by nature a fabulist. I transform images, change their character, make
them float, fly, perform, tell a visual story. To that extent it is playful and
spontaneous.”  K G SUBRAMANYAN

145

85 a
b
a) Untitled c
Circa 1990s
Watercolour and crayon on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.6 x 19.6 cm)

EXHIBITED
Drawings of Women, presented by The Seagull
Foundation for the Arts at Santiniketan:
Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February
2017; Patna: Bihar Museum, 3 ‒ 16 November
2017; Kolkata: Birla Academy of Art and
Culture, 14 March ‒ 14 April 2018; New Delhi:
Art Heritage, 13 August ‒ 9 September 2018;
Hyderabad: Kalakriti Art Gallery, 20 October
‒ 1 November 2018; Ahmedabad: L&P
Hutheesingh Visual Art Centre, 20 November
‒ 2 December 2018

PUBLISHED
R Siva Kumar, Women Seen and Remembered:
Drawings of Women by K G Subramanyan,
Kolkata: Seagull Books, 2017, p. 129

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower centre and left)
1990s
Watercolour and crayon on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.6 x 19.6 cm)

c) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1990s
Watercolour and crayon on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.6 x 19.6 cm)

d) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1990s
Watercolour and crayon on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.6 x 19.6 cm)

e) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
1990s
Watercolour and crayon on paper
7.75 x 7.75 in (19.6 x 19.6 cm)

$6,945 ‒ 9,725
Rs 5,00,000 ‒ 7,00,000

(Set of five)

146

d

e

“RSiva Kumar: Your use of colour in … recent work [has] a colour repertory that is more intense than usual;
with reds that almost burn the eyes, phosphorescent greens and fluorescent blues and blazing oranges there is
collision of complementary hues in many of them. You almost set up a clash between the colour and drawing in these
paintings whereas in the past, even your brightest of paintings, colour was usually subsumed to drawing.
K G Subramanyan: I suppose as you grow older your appetite for colour increases. I recall an incident in a Dostoyevsky
novel where an ailing priest says that his vision of the world was so keyed up as to seem that it was assembled with gems
and precious stones. Colour or no colour I find the vision of the world more engrossing and diverting with the passage
of years.” — The artist in conversation with R Siva Kumar, 2014

147

148

86 EXHIBITED
New Works: K G Subramanyan, New Delhi: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, 13
Icon and Still Life ‒ 25 March 2014; Hyderabad: Salar Jung Museum, 26 July ‒ 16 August 2014; Kochi: Lalit
Kala Akademi, Regional Centre, August 2014; Chennai: Lalit Kala Akademi, Regional
Initialled in Tamil (lower left) Centre, September 2014; Bangalore: National Gallery of Modern Art, November
2013 2014; Santiniketan: Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, 5 ‒ 14 February 2015; Kolkata: The
Reverse painting on acrylic Harrington Street Arts Centre, 18 ‒ 25 February 2015
30 x 30 in (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
PUBLISHED
$20,835 ‒ 27,780 New Works: K G Subramanyan, Kolkata: Seagull Foundation for the Arts, 2014
Rs 15,00,000 ‒ 20,00,000
149

a 87

b a) Untitled
150 Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Circa 1990s
Watercolour on paper
11 x 11 in (27.9 x 27.9 cm)

b) Untitled
Initialled in Tamil (lower left)
Circa 1990s
Watercolour on paper
10.75 x 9.5 in (27.3 x 24.1 cm)

$4,170 ‒ 5,560
Rs 3,00,000 ‒ 4,00,000

(Set of two)