Page 63 - Iconic Masters October2023

Lot No. 44
T VAIKUNTAM
b. 1942

UNTITLED
48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
Acrylic on canvas
2021
Signed & Dated: Bottom Right

` 10,00,000 - 15,00,000 | $ 11,765 - 17,647

Provenance: Property from a collection based in New
Delhi. Artwork was acquired by the present owner
directly from the artist.

This lot will be offered without a reserve.

Thota Vaikuntam was born in Andhra Pradesh in 1942
and in 1970, earned a Diploma in Painting from the
College of Fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad. The
following year he was awarded the Lalit Kala Akademi
Fellowship which allowed him to further pursue art at
M.S. University in Baroda.

His works are predominantly inspired by the life he led in
his village and the residents he encountered during the
time. He immortalises the simple yet profound moments
of rural life in his impressive paintings. The simplicity and
daily rituals of villagers are depicted through his works
where the subjects are seen celebrating festivals,
doing household chores, at temples and working in
fields. His preoccupation with women has been evident
since childhood when he would attend performances
of male dancers and actors impersonating women
characters. Since then, he has focused a large part of
his oeuvre on his female characters.
His works are rooted in Indian culture, not only in the
subjects but also in his use of colours such as red, orange
and green. He relies on largely primary colours as he
believes composite shades do not appear organically
in nature and do not blend his colours for the same
reason. This results in stark contrasts throughout his
works that are vivid and lend to the characters’ depth.
The artist has held several solo exhibitions of his works
in various cities across India including New Delhi and
Mumbai. They have also been exhibited in London,
Dubai, New York and Kassel among others.