Shibu Natesan
(1966)
Stand Alone
Shibu Natesan is best known for his highly atmospheric photo- realistic paintings, such as the present lot, which on first glance appear to be straightforward renderings of the real world. However, on closer inspection, these paintings reveal “a dreamlike quality, leading viewers to question the truth of what they see. The artist subjects his source material to editorial metamorphoses so that the finished works have only a faint resemblance to...
Shibu Natesan is best known for his highly atmospheric photo- realistic paintings, such as the present lot, which on first glance appear to be straightforward renderings of the real world. However, on closer inspection, these paintings reveal “a dreamlike quality, leading viewers to question the truth of what they see. The artist subjects his source material to editorial metamorphoses so that the finished works have only a faint resemblance to the original.” (Amrita Jhaveri, A Guide to 101 Modern and Contemporary Indian Artists, Mumbai: India Book House, 2005, p. 138) His works are often inspired by photographs, as is the case in Stand Alone, which is based on a photograph of Helsinki taken during Natesan’s travels there. This painting comes from “a series of autobiographical works, set against the nocturnal streets of European capitals. With the headlights of buses and trams, the street festooned with electric lights, the lone body of the artist stands in the foreground. The lavish surface of the paintings is offset by the gloom and sense of alienation experienced by him.” (Jhaveri, p. 138) This sense of isolation is heightened in the present lot, where a brightly lit street scene is depicted in sharp contrast to shadowy human figures, with a sole figure - presumably that of the artist - standing markedly apart from the others.
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Lot
152
of
160
SPRING ONLINE AUCTION: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIAN ART AND ANTIQUITIES
6-7 APRIL 2022
Estimate
$30,000 - 50,000
Rs 22,50,000 - 37,50,000
Winning Bid
$36,000
Rs 27,00,000
(Inclusive of Buyer's Premium)
USD payment only.
Why?
ARTWORK DETAILS
Shibu Natesan
Stand Alone
Signed in Tamil and further dated, signed and inscribed '2003/ SHIBU NATESAN/ "STAND ALONE"' (on the reverse)
2003
Oil on canvas
69.25 x 95.75 in (176 x 243 cm)
PROVENANCE Christie's, New York, 20 September 2006, lot 150
EXHIBITEDUnder the Skin of Simulation: Atul Dodiya, Surendran Nair, Shibu Natesan , Berlin: The Fine Art Resource, 16 September - 3 October 2003 PUBLISHED Ranjana Steinrücke, Under the Skin of Simulation , Berlin: The Fine Art Resource, 2003 (illustrated)
Category: Painting
Style: Landscape
ARTWORK SIZE:
Height of Figure: 6'