Jehangir Sabavala (b. 1922)

In the decade following Indian independence, Jehangir Sabavala experimented with the plasticity of Synthetic Cubism. Executed in 1958, Winged Flight represents the artist's earliest experimentations in Cubism – exhibiting a stylized rigidity in form through the architecture of intersecting planes, sharp angularities and wedges of light. Winged Flight utilizes the bold palette with which characterizes Sabavala's works from 1957-1959, and demonstrates his sublime interest in the relationship between kinetic energy, light and form.

In the artist's own words in regard to the current work: "At the centre is the heart of a sunflower. The taut bodies of the butterflies converge upon it in a flutter of exuberant wings. Yet more sunflower heads peep at your from the corners.

"I had painted a set of three pictures entitled 'The Lure of the Sunflower'. The palette was daring and high pitched, and I took pleasure in what one could do because one was excited by the technique. Conceived and delivered in taut lines and strong wedges, the paintings were a swirl of movement, patterning and color." (Correspondence with Jehangir Sabavala, Mumbai, 16 February 2011)