Page 101 - Iconic Master

Lot No. 57

HIMMAT SHAH

b. 1933
TIRTHANKAR (ED: 1/5)
48 x 26 x 20 in (122 x 66 x 50.8 cm)
Bronze
Signed: On the reverse
` 30,00,000 - 40,00,000 | $ 37,500 - 50,000 Cover of the publication with the work illustrated
Published: ‘Himmat Shah: Innocence & Creativity’
by Institute of Contemporary Indian Art, 2024,
pgs. 22-25
Provenance: Property from a collection based in
New Delhi

(Another view)
Himmat Shah is a versatile artist who has explored
various mediums and styles throughout his career,
yet he considers sculpture to be his most genuine
form of artistic expression. Growing up near the site
of ancient Indus Valley in Lothal, Shah infused the
inspiration from his birthplace into his creations.
This influence is particularly evident in his acclaimed
series of terracotta and bronze sculptures of ‘heads’,
which remain some of his most celebrated works.
The Heads series, which began in the 1970s,
employed materials such as plaster, terracotta,
and ceramics, reflecting the profound impact of his
early experiences.
Over a career spanning more than seventy years,
Shah has received numerous prestigious accolades.
Among them are the Lalit Kala Akademi’s National
Award, which he won in both 1956 and 1962, the
Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1988, and the
Kalidasa Samman from the Government of Madhya
Pradesh. His sculptures continue to evoke the
ancient and the timeless, offering a deeply personal
connection to the past while remaining relevant in
the contemporary art world.