Asian Art Auctions Upbeat Despite Financial Crisis

Vol. XXXIV, No. 3                                                                                                      Raj S. Rangarajan 

NEW YORK—Sales of Asian art at Christie’s and Sotheby’s in New York Sept. 15–19 were healthy, despite a drop in overall volume to $77 million from over $100 million last fall (ANL, 10/16/07). Contemporary Asian art—particularly by artists from South Asia—continues to show strength.

Christie’s realized $51.14 million for eight sales, up from $44.43 million for four sales last year. The top-grossing sales at Christie’s were of Chinese ceramics and works of art, which took $13.2 million, and of South Asian modern and contemporary art, which followed closely with a total of $12.6 million.

Sotheby’s realized $26 million in four sales, the lion’s share of which was for contemporary art. Two sales—contemporary Asian art on Sept. 17 and modern and contemporary South Asian art on Sept. 18—took a combined $16.4 million, accounting for well over half of the total. However, Sotheby’s overall Asia week total was less than half the $61.9 million it took in last fall. Last summer, Sotheby’s announced that, starting in 2009, it would hold all of its contemporary Asian art auctions in Hong Kong, noting that that is where the house has achieved the highest prices for the category.

At Christie’s South Asian sale, 84 of the 126 lots on offer, or 67 percent, found buyers. By value the auction was 78 percent sold. The top lot was Subodh Gupta’s Steal 2, which sold just above its $1 million high estimate for $1.2 million to an American collector, despite its having been executed just last year. Two other works by Gupta figured among the top lots: Miter, also dated 2007, an installation featuring the artist’s signature stainless steel pots, cleared its $600,000/800,000 estimate to sell for $1 million, and an untitled 2005 oil on canvas (estimate: $600,000/800,000) sold to an Indian dealer for $962,500.

Also breaking the $1 million mark was Maqbool Fida Husain’s painting Ritual, 1968, which surpassed its $600,000/800,000 estimate. An oil painting by Tyeb Mehta, Untitled (Yellow Heads), 1979, sold for $902,500. Three years ago, Mehta’s painting Mahisasura, 1997, was the first Indian painting to sell at over a million dollars when it fetched $1.6 million at Christie’s (ANL, 9/27/05).

Two works by Rameshwar Broota (b. 1941) sold well, with the oil painting Man, 1991, bringing $506,500 (estimate: $250,000/350,000) and The Same Old Story II, 1979, a painting depicting two large monkeys conversing arm-in-arm, taking in $662,500, more than triple the estimate of $150,000/200,000.

Six auction records were set for works by artists representing India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, including Jyothi Basu, Riyas Komu, Chitra Ganesh, Mohammad Zeeshan and Zainul Abedin. Indian artist Manjit Bawa’s oil on canvas Untitled, 1992, fetched a record $362,500 (estimate: $200,000/300,000).

Asian Demand Fuels Sales

At Christie’s sale of Chinese ceramics and works of art and masterworks of ancient and Imperial China, the top lot was an early Ming dynasty tianbai-glazed anhua-decoratedmeiping (a vase inspired by the shape of a female body), Yongle period (1403–1425), which sold to Hong Kong dealer Chak’s Company Ltd. for a record $2.8 million, more than three times the high estimate of $800,000.

Tina Zonars, Christie’s international director, Chinese works of art, said the sales “illustrate the continuing strength of the market.” Zonars noted that “among the stronger collecting fields were snuff bottles, white jade carvings, imperial ceramics—all Chinese-taste categories.”

The second-highest lot was a rare Qing dynasty yellow-ground “Dragon” vase decorated with green enamel, Qianlong period (1736–1795), which was won by London dealer Eskenazi Ltd. for $1.76 million (estimate: $600,000/800,000).

Theow Tow, deputy chairman, Christie’s Americas and Asia, noted “Asians in particular participated strongly in all collecting categories, both classical and contemporary,” in the sales.

Asian Contemporary Art Tops Sotheby’s Sales

At Sotheby’s “Contemporary Art Asia: China Korea Japan” session, Zeng Fanzhi’s Mask Series, 1997, was bought by a Japanese private collector for $1.1 million (estimate: $900,000/1.2 million). The second-highest lot was Kim Whanki’s Les Oiseaux Volants (Flying Birds), 1957, which an Asian dealer acquired for $434,500 (estimate: $200,000/300,000).

In all, the sale realized $8.5 million, with 137, or 65 percent, of the 211 works on offer finding buyers. The sold-by-value rate was also relatively modest, at just 64 percent.

Among the other top prices, Cai Guo-Qiang’s gunpowder-on-paper Two Eagles, 2005, sold within estimate for $422,500 (estimate: $380,000/550,000) and Zhang Huan’s Family Tree, 2000, sold for $386,500 (estimate: $120,000/180,000) to an American buyer.

Sotheby’s modern and contemporary South Asian art sale realized $7.8 million for 126 lots, of which 82, or 65 percent, found buyers. By value, the auction was 80 percent sold.

Work by many of the same artists, including Gupta, Mehta and Husain, dominated the top ten at Sotheby’s and Christie’s in this category. Mehta’s acrylic-on-canvas Falling Figure with Bird, 2003, sold for a high-estimate $1.5 million. Gupta’s oil painting One Cow, 2003, depicting a bicycle slung with containers of milk, sold for $866,500 (estimate: $600,000/800,000).

Works by Francis Newton Souza also figured prominently at Sotheby’s sale, including the painting Orange Head, 1963, which sold for $482,500 (estimate: $400,000/600,000); Christ on Palm Sunday, a 1956 oil on board, which sold for $266,500 (estimate: $220,000/320,000); andDeath and the Maiden, 1966, which brought $182,500 (estimate: $100,000/150,000).

In the Chinese ceramics and works of art sale, which included Chinese and Japanese art from a private collection, a polychrome wood and gesso sculpture of the boddhisattva Guhyasadhana Avalokitesvara, Ming dynasty, Xuande period, sold for $1.2 million (estimate: $1.4 million/1.6 million).

Loins of Punjab -- English movie spoof, Sept. 12, 2008

DESICLUB.com

Loins of Punjab Presents...
Director: Manish Acharya
Starring: Shabana Azmi, Ajay Naidu, Ayesha Dharker
Released: September 12, 2008

In India we have all heard of shows such as Zee TVs Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sony TVs Indian Idol and Sansui Boogie Woogie, and Doordarshans Music Masti Aur Dhoom. But, have you heard of a Desi Idol contest being promoted in a small New Jersey town by a pork millionaire for a $25,000 prize? Perhaps you haven't because the competition is arriving soon to the big screen in America. The English feature film titled Loins of Punjab Presents lasts 88 minutes and is a laugh riot if you are in a mood to let your hair down.

What do you think the following have in common: A businessman, Vikram Tejwani, American yogi, Joshua Cohen (Michael Raimondi) who has invented joga or jogging-yoga, a Bhangra rapper, Turbanotorious BDG (Ajay Naidu), a philanthropist, Rrita Kapoor (Shabana Azmi), an over-protected female singer, Preeti Patel (Ishitta Sharma), and an aspiring actress, Sania Rahman played by Seema Rahmani?

Give up?

These are contestants at the 3-day Bollywood style musical event, and the narrative is filled with humor, Bhangra-style dances, devious machinations by a contestant (you'll never guess who), a dedicated publicity campaign with T-shirts from the Patel family to promote their candidate, and suspense regarding the ultimate winner. The inevitable Bollywood format and pop music find their way into the film as also predilections of Indian-American stereotypes that make for predictable laughs (snacks for instance in accented lingo becomes snakes you know what I mean.).

A certain level of levity runs through the fabric of the film right from the first scene when Sudarsh Bokade played by Jameel Khan is being interviewed by a journalist. Bokade, a wily event manager with a weakness for Gipsy Kings music is often confused as to which side his bread his buttered.

Ajay Naidu, who has acting credits over the past 11 years (Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, The Accidental Husband) is also a break dancer and his prowess for the dance form is evident. Ajay trained at the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training run by the American Repertory Theatre (ART) at Harvard. Michael Raimondi who plays Josh and sings India's national anthem, has done film, opera and off-Broadway theater. His girl friend in the film, Opama Menon (Ayesha Dharker) is known to New York audiences for her predominant role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams.

Seema Rahmani (TV shows Roswell and Alias and films Hum Kaun Hein, Karamchand), belts out a fine duet with rival Vikram Tejwani (played by Manish Acharya) who directed, co-wrote and produced the film. A multiple award winner from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film program, Manish also has degrees in Physics and Industrial Relations.

Darshan Jariwala (Gandhi My Father) who plays Sanjeev Patel, top contestant, Preeti?s father comes up with a compulsive performance and has worked earlier with director Mani Ratnam. Ishitta Sharma?s debut was in Dil Dosti Etc. Obviously Shabana Azmi needs no introduction.

Impressive musical score

The Dhol Beat composed and produced by actor Samrat Chakrabarti was upbeat in keeping with today?s funky trend where everything from hip hop to rock to metal goes. The script was crafty and music rendered with passion. Samrat has television and theater credits (Law and Order, The Sopranos) and appeared in She Hate Me, directed by Spike Lee.

A phenomenal success from several accounts when the film opened last September in India, Loins is a must-see specially if you like desi humor and can laugh at the foibles we Indians are heir to in North America. The Indian and Jewish characters are shown in unaltered formats, and mercifully not particularly pristine which makes for unbiased, candid portrayals in these days of political correctness.

In short, the movie is about having a good time and the pressures that accompany dreams of aspiring stars. It is perhaps coincidental that Sony's Entertainment division has just announced the fourth season of Indian Idol that debuts in a few days.

Raj S. Rangarajan is a New York-based trend writer, reports on the art market and has contributed to publications in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and India. He can be reached at raj.rangarajan@gmail.com.

Loins of Punjab: Movie Review

Ultimate Bollywood » Movie Reviews » 2008



Loins of Punjab Presents...
Director: Manish Acharya
Starring: Shabana Azmi, Ajay Naidu, Ayesha Dharker
Released: September 12, 2008

by Raj S. Rangarajan

In India we have all heard of shows such as Zee TVs Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sony TVs Indian Idol and Sansui Boogie Woogie, and Doordarshans Music Masti Aur Dhoom. But, have you heard of a Desi Idol contest being promoted in a small New Jersey town by a pork millionaire for a $25,000 prize? Perhaps you haven't because the competition is arriving soon to the big screen in America. The English feature film titled Loins of Punjab Presents lasts 88 minutes and is a laugh riot if you are in a mood to let your hair down.

What do you think the following have in common: A businessman, Vikram Tejwani, American yogi, Joshua Cohen (Michael Raimondi) who has invented joga or jogging-yoga, a Bhangra rapper, Turbanotorious BDG (Ajay Naidu), a philanthropist, Rrita Kapoor (Shabana Azmi), an over-protected female singer, Preeti Patel (Ishitta Sharma), and an aspiring actress, Sania Rahman played by Seema Rahmani?

Give up?

These are contestants at the 3-day Bollywood style musical event, and the narrative is filled with humor, Bhangra-style dances, devious machinations by a contestant (you'll never guess who), a dedicated publicity campaign with T-shirts from the Patel family to promote their candidate, and suspense regarding the ultimate winner. The inevitable Bollywood format and pop music find their way into the film as also predilections of Indian-American stereotypes that make for predictable laughs (snacks for instance in accented lingo becomes snakes you know what I mean.).

A certain level of levity runs through the fabric of the film right from the first scene when Sudarsh Bokade played by Jameel Khan is being interviewed by a journalist. Bokade, a wily event manager with a weakness for Gipsy Kings music is often confused as to which side his bread his buttered.

Ajay Naidu, who has acting credits over the past 11 years (Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, The Accidental Husband) is also a break dancer and his prowess for the dance form is evident. Ajay trained at the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training run by the American Repertory Theatre (ART) at Harvard. Michael Raimondi who plays Josh and sings India's national anthem, has done film, opera and off-Broadway theater. His girl friend in the film, Opama Menon (Ayesha Dharker) is known to New York audiences for her predominant role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams.

Seema Rahmani (TV shows Roswell and Alias and films Hum Kaun Hein, Karamchand), belts out a fine duet with rival Vikram Tejwani (played by Manish Acharya) who directed, co-wrote and produced the film. A multiple award winner from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Film program, Manish also has degrees in Physics and Industrial Relations.

Darshan Jariwala (Gandhi My Father) who plays Sanjeev Patel, top contestant, Preeti?s father comes up with a compulsive performance and has worked earlier with director Mani Ratnam. Ishitta Sharma?s debut was in Dil Dosti Etc. Obviously Shabana Azmi needs no introduction.

Impressive musical score

The Dhol Beat composed and produced by actor Samrat Chakrabarti was upbeat in keeping with today?s funky trend where everything from hip hop to rock to metal goes. The script was crafty and music rendered with passion. Samrat has television and theater credits (Law and Order, The Sopranos) and appeared in She Hate Me, directed by Spike Lee.

A phenomenal success from several accounts when the film opened last September in India, Loins is a must-see specially if you like desi humor and can laugh at the foibles we Indians are heir to in North America. The Indian and Jewish characters are shown in unaltered formats, and mercifully not particularly pristine which makes for unbiased, candid portrayals in these days of political correctness.

In short, the movie is about having a good time and the pressures that accompany dreams of aspiring stars. It is perhaps coincidental that Sony's Entertainment division has just announced the fourth season of Indian Idol that debuts in a few days.

Raj S. Rangarajan is a New York-based trend writer, reports on the art market and has contributed to publications in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and India. He can be reached at raj.rangarajan@gmail.com.

The Love Guru – A Delightful Spoof

BY RAJ S. RANGARAJAN *

Mike Myers and Jessica Alba

The Love Guru is primarily a spoof – not to be taken seriously. Once you accept that you may enjoy the movie. Some followers of Hinduism and others who are touchy about the Hindu faith and beliefs may not approve of the film.

After his success as a “foreign agent” Austin Powers (Mike Myers) has taken up a new avatar: Guru Maurice Pitka. The guru’s words of wisdom are expected to help a high profile couple in Canada get back together after marital troubles. Myers plays the role of healer and is charged with the responsibility of getting back reputed ice hockey player Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) of the Toronto Maple Leafs team with his estranged partner, Prudence, played by Meagan Good (Eye’s Bayou with Samuel L. Jackson), who is now dating the L.A. Kings’ goalie from Quebec, Jacques “Le Coq” Grande, played by Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog, multiple Grammy winner with platinum albums).

Guru Pitka creates a new-found philosophy which he encapsulates into DRAMA – D-istraction, R-egression, A-djustment, M-aturity, A-ction to get his message across. Darren has lost his enthusiasm to win hockey games for the team, and that concerns the team’s owner, Jane Bullard played by actress, Jessica Alba (Dark Angel, Sin City) and the 32-inch actor coach Cherkov, played by Verne Troyer. There are plenty of jokes about midgets, smallness and body parts. Jane is anxious to win the Stanley Cup for her father, the former owner of the team.

On another front, Guru Pitka’s aide (John Olivers) is looking for a payback in the form of an appearance on the Oprah show so that he could prove that he is bigger than Deepak Chopra, the new age guru who also makes a cameo appearance.

The real-life Mariska Hargitay, a fixture in NBC’s “Law and Order” makes an appearance and Guru Pitka does not stop chanting her name after meeting her since she is gorgeous and the name is supposed to resemble a Hindu mantra. His mode of transportation – a carpet on wheels – is original and he deserves a plus for creativity.

While the film’s publicity department talks of an all-star cast that includes Alba, Timberlake, Ben Kingsley who played Gandhi, Malco (The 40-year-old Origin) there is no mention, in the credits, of a relative newcomer Manu Narayan, the Bombay Dreams Broadway star, who has a major role in the film.

As Rajneesh, Manu has several significant lines and while the movie could turn out to be a flop Manu’s role may well catapult him into a meaningful career. His talent as a singer comes in handy. Kingsley, as cross-eyed Guru Tugginmypuddha teaches a young Maurice Pitka and a young Deepak Chopra the ABCs of “guruhood” but the fact remains that this foray into comedy may not sully his famous Academy Award winning Gandhi role.

While some of the dance scenes (read Bollywood) were off the wall, the viewer is always conscious that the movie is just a light comedy, and one ought to look at it through that prism. With Bollywood being such a vital part of entertainment in India, its not surprising that India’s Reliance ADA group owned by Anil Ambani is in talks with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen at Dreamworks SKG to form a new movie enterprise.

Marco Schnabel, who graduated from the USC’s School of Cinema/Television, makes his directorial debut for this feature film that was co-written and co-produced by Mike Myers who was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario (Toronto). His original comedy sketches, work on “Saturday Night Live”, his Emmy in 1989 and the Austin Powers role are almost legendary.

Its perhaps incidental that the storyline demanded crude language and a scene where two elephants are seen in a seemingly sexual act in a stadium filled with cheering fans. Knowing Mike Myers’ past antics, one can always expect the unexpected. All of the above must have contributed for a PG-13 rating.

Deepak Chopra, who has a considerable following in Hollywood and outside comes in for envy and praise by wannabee Guru Pitka. Chopra talks favorably of the film and has in fact criticized the Hindu zealots who have called for a boycott of the film. The average English-speaking filmgoer is perhaps not affected by such protests.

In 88 minutes the movie manages to mock Hindus and offer humor – a kind of slapstick, but not mature enough for the average viewer’s comfort. With Hindu groups protesting the film’s content in some countries it may end up garnering free publicity, for, such controversies tend to help the box office.

[Raj S. Rangarajan, a New York-based trends writer, covers art and lifestyles and reviews books, films and plays for publications in the United States, Canada, Australia and India. He can be reached at raj.rangarajan@gmail.com.]

Global Bidding Drives Asian Contemporary Sales in Hong Kong

by Raj S. Rangarajan

NEW YORK—Dozens of new records were set for artists from China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan at Christie’s in Hong Kong during the house’s inaugural evening sale of Asian contemporary art (which totaled $40.7 million) and Chinese 20th-century art ($21.7 million) on May 24. Including day sales on May 25, the overall total was $104.6 million.

The evening sale of contemporary art was 94 percent sold by lot and value. The top-selling lot was Zeng Fanzhi’s Mask Series 1996 No. 6, 1996, which sold for $9.7 million, more than three times the high estimate of $3.2 million. It was followed by Yue Minjun’s Gweong-Gweong, 1993, which brought $6.93 million. Also in the top ten were Yue Minjun’s Big Swans, 2003, bought by an Asian private bidder for $2.48 million, and The Sun, 2000, picked up by a European buyer for $1.41 million.

Eric Chang, Christie’s international director of Asian contemporary art and Chinese 20th-century art, noted “growing global interest in Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Korean and Japanese contemporary art.” Chang says he looks forward to “seeing further cross-cultural interest in Asian art from collectors worldwide.”

Three works by Chinese artist Zhang Xiaogang were in the top ten, including Bloodline: Mother and Son, 1993, which sold to an Asian private buyer for $2.27 million; Bloodline: Big Family Series, 1996, sold to a European bidder for $2.1 million; and Baby Boy with Red Face, 1995, which fell for $1.62 million. A record was set for Indian artist Subodh Gupta when Saat Samundar Paar (Across the Seven Seas), 2003, sold for $1.2 million.

The Asian contemporary-art day sale on May 25 was 90 percent sold by lot and 92 percent sold by value. Three of Yue Minjun’s works were sold at prices well beyond their presale high estimates: Dark Sky, 2003, brought $835,260; Romanticism & Realism Series 2, 2003, brought $792,000; and 99 idol series No. 50 & 63, 1996, took $510,800.

Garden, circa 1970, by Chinese artist Liao Chi-Ch’un led the Chinese 20th-century evening sale with a price of $4.5 million, followed by Spring in the West Lake, 1934, by Chen Cheng-Po, which sold for $4.36 million.

There were three works by Zao Wou-Ki in the top ten: 1-4-68, 1968 ($1.84 million), 26-4-62, 1962 ($1.62 million), and 25-5-62, 1962 ($1.55 million). Sanyu’s Pink Flowers, circa 1930s, sold for $1.41 million.

Among the Asian contemporary works for which artist records were set during both the evening and day sales were Mumbai-born Jitish Kallat’s installation Rickshawpolis 9, 2006, which sold for $200,848; Korean artist Hong Kyoung Tack’s Library II, 1995-2001, which fetched $585,554; Makoto Aida’s Monument for Nothing, 2002-4, sold for $688,114; Hisashi Tenmyouya’s RX-78-2 Kabuki-mono 2005 Version, 2005, which brought $616,322; and Tetsuya Ishida’s painting Decided By Myself, 1999, which sold for $705,480. Another record was set for Japanese artist Mr., when his acrylic on canvas V, 2005, was bought for $647,000.

In defence of Artist Maqbool Fida Husain

Images: M F Husain:
Pictures courtesy: Copyright Sotheby's.


Freedom of expression is an easy term to understand, but defies definition in today’s times. I have always wondered why people – whatever the persuasion, left, right or uncommitted – have a hard time understanding the concept. Is it because if you have an agenda you are unable to comprehend what it stands for? Or is it because people with closed minds have no freedom any more to think independently?

Expressing oneself by speech or in writing or by artistic endeavour or through a play or even through a camera lens is a basic right in a democracy such as India.
It’s a shame that writers, artists, playwrights, filmmakers and others with creative minds have been victims of hate speech and terrorist threats. The recent incident of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen having to leave India for an unknown destination does not say much for India’s avowed secular credentials.

In 1989 when Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses created more than a stir resulting in a fatwa by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, India sat on the fence for a long time for fear of offending the Muslim vote. Rushdie is India-born, though in his later years he studied and lived in the UK and currently resides in the United States.

The most enduring example over the past decade of course has been 93-year-old Maqbool Fida Husain, who has been at the receiving end just because his paintings do not appeal to a certain section of his audience. He cannot return to the country of his birth because some obsessed Indians have decided not to let him.

Born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, it’s not Maqbool Fida’s fault if he was born Muslim. Is it a coincidence that all these earlier aforesaid folk were born Muslim? Or, does the Indian milieu have double standards in India and elsewhere?

The Battle of Ganga and Jamuna 12, an oil on canvas dipltych (74-3/4” x 107-3/4”) that was bought for US$1.60 million in March in New York by an anonymous buyer, creating an auction record. No mystery here. Auction houses routinely avoid mentioning names of owners unless the buyer or the institution agrees to have it mentioned.

This set of 27 was formerly housed in the Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. But, Hindu activists can take comfort that none of the warriors or women in the original Kurukshetra battle between forces of right and wrong were depicted nude. The painting depicts goddesses “Ganga” and “Jamuna”, personification of the holy rivers as conjoined with labels in Sanskrit on both sides of the split while representing conceptual strife between warring factions of the Kuru lineage, the Pandava and Kaurava cousins, each descended from river goddesses. (Courtesy: Husain: The Tata Iron & Steel Company Limited, Bombay 1998.)

Apart from this expensive piece at Christie’s, several of Husain’s paintings won top drawer price such as his 1997 Mother Teresa (63-1/4” x 32-1/2”) that sold at $205,000 which was bought by an American bidder, and across town at Sotheby’s, his Untitled 1953 piece (47-1/2” x 47-1/2”) was bought for $409,000 by an Indian trade buyer.

During Christie’s sale in mid-town Manhattan in March, two groups – Indian American Intellectual Forum (IAIF) and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, protested against Husain’s work saying he was insulting Hindus and what Hinduism stood for. His work had drawn protests even in 1998 in the Chelsea area of Manhattan.

Groups of varied hues have protested over the past several years in London as well, not to ignore the vandalism subjected to some of his works at home by vested interests. But Husain’s creative works continue to be bought and resold at constantly rising prices.

Husain’s artistic skills and interpretations cover the gamut of free expression ranging from the Mahabharata series to scantily-clad women to horses (his favourite) to religious Indian icons.

What gives the ruling administration, those speaking for the art establishment, right wing leaders or opinion-makers and politicians in India the right to criticise, denigrate and demonise an artist for his work? When did the government and the people in power become arbiters of art? If the government changes, knowing the vagaries of politics in India, will Husain be accepted by the other side? Or is he doomed forever?

Not many people are aware that among the doyen’s masterpieces is a series of 27 paintings that he completed in 1971-72 for the 11th Sao Paolo Biennial on the epic Mahabharata.

There is a breed of men and women (let’s call them “facilitators”) who revel in and encourage people on the fence to take sides. Regrettably, there are also men and women with an agenda, hacks who write for money. Several decades ago it was mercenaries who accomplished favours for money. Now, with brand management and public relations a successful industry in India as well, everything is a brand – whether it is an artist, a politician, a fashion model or even a novelist.

Any artist is conscious of the provenance of his or her work, and so should others who view, comment on or buy art. The place and time-period when an artist creates his/her piece becomes critical, especially if the end product qualifies as an investment.

At the time when artisans and artists created Khajuraho frescoes and artefacts between 950 and 1050 AD one wonders if self-styled “monitors of art” existed who could and would cry “foul”.

Activists who want to bring down an artist now are obviously in a different mind-set, not necessarily conscious of subtle nuances of art or art appreciation. Many of the misled volunteers ready to torch a piece of art will perhaps stop being activists if they are told precisely what that art represents and stands for. The price of success for an artist seems to be the wrath of the art monitors.

It is ultimately Husain’s fault that he acquired fame just as Salman Rushdie or Taslima Nasreen. Let’s face it: there are many artists who continue to portray nudes, but since they have not yet earned fame or notoriety, they are “safe”.

In the 50’s and 60’s, Husain had the moral and financial support from the likes of the Herwitzes – Chester and Davida – and Tom Keehn, who worked in a non-profit organisation for Nelson Rockefeller between 1952 and 1961 in Delhi.

Keehn, who is also 93 and very close to the Husain family said, “last year, when Husain visited New York, the artist had produced “Two Horses” within just 75 minutes with about 20 people watching.

In 1947, The Progressive Artists Group was formed by artists Francis Newton Souza, S H Raza and K H Ara and Husain was an early member. American, European well-wishers abound and now successful Indian financiers have taken to promoting Indian artists.

These days artists too are savvy about their financial potential and know that a mix of hard work and creative juices will be a winning combination for them, specially with many Indians with purchasing power ready to invest in realty of the artistic kind. One fears however that promotion of artists by some interests may not be necessarily altruistic. One hopes artists do not become art factories in the name of potential, fame and riches On the other hand, with Indian authorities reportedly waiting for Husain to show up in India, it was in his interest not to flee to Dubai or London. He has made it more difficult for himself by feeding more fodder to the rumour mill that he was allegedly being supported by financier Guru Swaroop Shrivastava for 100 paintings.

Husain has been working on a project for the last six months under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, wife of Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar. According to The Peninsula paper in Qatar, Husain has said, "there will be 99 paintings as there are 99 names for God. It will be not only Islamic history but also pre-Islamic, which will include Christianity, Judaism etc, mostly the Arab part of it.” Husain will be using contemporary style of drawing because according to him “the visual form can be understood by anyone, even children.”

While the artist became controversial for his nudes, it ought to be mentioned that he has also drawn young Muslim children reciting the Quran with a Muslim teacher who appears to be blessing the kids. The painting done in 1953 is called The Teaching (in translation, it was actually Untitled). He has also painted Mother Teresa resemblances evidenced by her typical blue-border saris.

How does one reconcile this current intolerance with the fact that India and Indians have long been exposed to nude artefacts, of buxom women sketched by artists who follow other faiths such as Hinduism or Christianity; of nude men from certain Hindu sects parading their bodies in the name of being pure, religious and unattached to mortal creations (read clothing)?

Its perhaps speculative but worth exploring that if Husain was not born Maharashtrian, would he have taken up with Madhuri Dixit, a fellow Maharashtrian? After all, he has mentioned that she was the inspiration behind his 2000 film – Gaja Gamini that also starred Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah.

While Husain’s freedom of expression is under threat within India’s shores, the soaring prices of contemporary Indian art is a growing phenomenon that is here to stay.

A New York based trend writer, Raj Rangarajan reports on the art market and has contributed to publications in the United States, Canada, Australia and India. He can be reached at raj.rangarajan@gmail.com

Cell phones save taxi driver from major assault

The South Asian Times, New York

by Raj S. Rangarajan

New York: Many of us have heard of the taxi driver of Indian origin who was attacked last month by a female passenger in a yellow cab in Manhattan. But, did you know that the 22-year- old rookie driver Neeru Singh was female and was saved from major assault thanks to a 2-way cell phone that taxi drivers use to communicate with their bases and their fellow drivers?
Neeru (originally from Ludhiana), had picked up a ride at 55th Street and 10th Avenue on a Tuesday morning and her destination was a hotel in the Chelsea area (28th Street and Ninth Avenue). Reportedly, the passenger, Paula Mergel, got agitated after hearing chatter on the cell phone between taxi drivers, and started making unsavoury remarks about other races.
At some point the passenger allegedly attempted to choke the driver while the vehicle was in motion.

Since the cell phones were switched on, other drivers including Rajni Tak (originally from Hoshiarpur) and Raminder Gill (originally from Haryana) heard the struggle within the cab and rushed to the Chelsea area to rescue Neeru. These feisty Punjabi women helped stave off a major incident thanks to some quick thinking. Following a 911 call from a cabbie and directions from Neeru, the police were able to locate the passenger who had fled on foot. She was charged with assault, attempted robbery and harassment.

Rajni said, "she heard heavy breathing over the phone" and that the police noticed the assailant's finger prints on Neeru's neck as also cash strewn around the cab. Rajni, speaks Spanish as well and has been driving for 12 years. Her husband is a limo driver. While the Taxi Commission prohibits cabbies from using cell phones when on duty, Rajni added, "its
attempted time we ask for exemptions in emergencies."

Also rushing to rescue her fellow driver in Chelsea was Raminder who was furthest away from 86th Street and Columbus Avenue. Raminder, said, "I have been driving a cab for four years it's a fun job to drive a taxi" and though she enjoys her job, hopes to return to India to join her family's business in Punjab. In her earlier job she was an import coordinator in Manhattan's fashion district.

Neeru, who studied history and English at Khalsa College in Ludhiana, hopes to open a restaurant once she accumulated enough savings. Her dad too is a taxi driver. Neeru's favorite movie is Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and her favorite star: you guessed it -- Shahrukh Khan.