Sakti Burman

Acquired directly from the artist circa 2009

Sakti Burman was born in Calcutta in 1935, where he attended the Government Art College. In the mid-1950s, Burman moved to Paris on a scholarship awarded to him by the French Government. The artist has lived between France and India, with studios in Paris and New Delhi. Through his distinctive palette and depiction of fantastical figures, Burman draws his viewer into a dream-like universe. His paintings seem to occupy a world of their own, suspended between the spheres of myth and reality.

Fellow artist Paritosh Sen writes ‘By his blend of complementary colours, varied textures and decorative details, [Burman] holds out a dream world of harmony, a world free of conflict and an abode of abiding peace. The viewer, turning away from today's world of conflict and violence, feels assured of peace and happiness in the world of Burman's paintings.’ (‘Sakti Burman's world', The Hindu Magazine, 22 June 2003)

In the current lot, Burman seeks recourse in the female nude and majestic horse, two key motifs for the artist. The subjects and backdrop are rendered in richly saturated red, orange and blue, with the painter's quintessential ornate texturing. The prismatic palette and the almost hybrid form of the figure and creature showcase the delightful reverie of Burman's work.