Manjit Bawa (1941-2008)

Painted for the Asian Games, New Delhi, 1982

The colour of the background is light grey and not yellow as depicted in the catalogue. There is hairline craquelure across the surface of the canvas, consistent with the thickly applied paint. The background behind the figure has been lightly cleaned and consolidated. This painting is in good overall condition, as viewed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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The present work by Manjit Bawa is an iconic representation of Apu, the mascot for the Asian Games hosted in Delhi in 1982. The painting was commissioned specifically for the Games, and is notable because the event was historically important for India. As in his best known works, we see a luminous, flat plane of color in the background and a subtly rendered figure in the foreground. The painting is from a critical and transformative moment in Bawa’s career, as “in the early 1980s, Bawa fulfilled an ambition he set for himself in reaction to art-school masters: he created his own figural form, distinct from the work of other artists. Drawing and plein-air sketching were central to this project” (Susan Bean, “Manjit Bawa,” Midnight to the Boom, p. 128). As always in his oeuvre, this canvas is distinguished for its bright colors reflected in the rich Indian palette.