London: Indian artist Syed Haider Raza's work 'Saurashtra' on A milestone in Indian art was achieved when 87-year-old Indian master Syed Raza's seminal work Saurashtra sold at more than 16 crores becoming the most valuable Indian painting to be sold in any auction at Christie's in London.
It was a two-day sale of South Asian modern and contemporary art held by Christie's including property from The Estate of Francis Newton Souza of India was 98 per cent sold by value and 91 per cent sold by lot. The sale on Thursday broke the record of Francis Newton Souza's 1955 painting, called Birth, which in June 2008 sold for £1,273,250, a world record for Indian modern and contemporary work of art till now.
The Head of South Asian art at Christie's Yamini Mehta said the previous record for Indian modern and contemporary art was a tie between Francis Newton Souza and Raza at about 2 and half million dollars which had been breached. The most valuable Indian painting had been confirmed as such.
The other painting that excited interest and the second highest price on Friday was Tyeb Mehta's Falling bird selling at well over 8 crores.
Six new Artist World Auction Record Prices were set, including Aisha Khalid, Sunil Gawde, Naiza Khan, Imran Qureshi, and Saren Pors/Aparna Rao.
These prices are a confirmation of the increasing value and recognition of Indian art in the global art scenario, but art experts say senior Indian masters are probably still undervalued.
While the collector, the wife of a prominent Indian industrialist, who's bought Raza's Saurashtra didn't want to talk on camera, she says this work will go back to India and will be displayed in a private museum for Indians to enjoy.