Priya Singh
Head of Department
Lot 43
M. Sivanesan(1940-2015)Untitled (Man)
10 December 2024, 15:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £3,200 inc. premium
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Louise Almeras
Cataloguer
M. Sivanesan (1940-2015)
Untitled (Man)
signed 'M. Sivanesan' lower left
oil on board, framed
97.6 x 41.4cm (38 7/16 x 16 5/16in).
signed 'M. Sivanesan' lower left
oil on board, framed
97.6 x 41.4cm (38 7/16 x 16 5/16in).
Footnotes
Provenance
Property from a private collection, England.
Acquired in India in the 1960s;
Thence by descent.
Sivanesan was a prominent Indian artist known for his evocative paintings that skilfully combined elements of folk art, traditional Indian motifs, and modernist aesthetics. Born in Madras (now Chennai), Sivanesan was deeply influenced by his rural upbringing, which lent a unique sensibility to his work as evidenced in both lots on offer in this auction. He studied at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai and later went on to establish himself as a significant figure in the post-Independence Indian art scene.
Sivanesan's oeuvre is characterized by a strong command over lines and textures, evident in his use of muted yet expressive colour palettes. His early works, primarily figurative compositions, focused on everyday rural life, portraying men, women, farmers, and village scenes with an intimate and lyrical quality. These subjects were rendered in a simplified, almost abstract manner, emphasizing their form and emotional essence rather than realistic details. His masterful use of line work and simplified shapes created a sense of rhythm and movement, a reflection of his deep engagement with the indigenous art forms of South India.
Sivanesan exhibited in India and internationally, with shows in London, Berlin, and New York. His works are held in numerous private and public collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, and the Lalit Kala Akademi. He was the recipient of several awards including the Lalit Kala Akademi Award.
To see a similar work sold in these rooms see Bonhams, Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art, 5th June 2024, lot 32.