Page 149 - Manifest September 2024

Lot No. 83

SATISH GUJRAL

1925-2020
UNTITLED
35 x 35 in (89 x 89 cm)
Mixed media on canvas
2012
Signed & Dated: Bottom Right & Verso
` 30,00,000 - 40,00,000 | $ 36,585 - 48,780
Provenance: Property from a collection based in
New Delhi

Satish Gujral, a prolific artist born in pre-partition
Punjab in 1925, excelled in multiple artistic
disciplines, including painting, sculpture, murals, and
architecture. Early in his career, Gujral encountered
the Progressive Artists’ Group, a pivotal moment that
led him to reject the rising influence of European
modernism in favour of a distinctly Indian artistic
approach. In 1947, he enrolled at the Sir J.J. School
of Art, and five years later, he received a scholarship
to study at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes in
Mexico. There, he apprenticed with master muralist
David Siqueiros, assisting on various mural projects.
He was also deeply influenced by the work of José
Orozco, particularly Orozco’s large-scale treatment
of the human figure, a technique that Gujral often
adopted in his own work.
Gujral’s artistic repertoire spanned several mediums,
with his canvases marked by abstract lines, textures,
and forms. His skills extended beyond visual art;
he was also a professional architect and interior
designer, further showcasing his diverse talents.
Throughout his career, Gujral’s works embodied
a synthesis of Indian and international influences,
making him a prominent figure in the Indian
contemporary art scene.