- 31
Arpita Singh
Estimate
35,000 - 45,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Arpita Singh
- Threat
- Signed and dated 'ARPITA SINGH / 91' lower right
- Oil on canvasboard
- 92.1 by 92.1 cm. (36 ¼ by 36 ¼ in.)
- Painted in 1991
Provenance
Christie's New York, 17 September, 2003, lot 184
Exhibited
New Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery, Ways Of Resistance, 2002
Condition
Very good overall condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
In contrast to Arpita Singh’s other humorous, yet often subversive works, this painting is a stark representation of fear and confusion in the face of an advancing threat. Inspired by, and as a reaction to the rise of communalism within India and the Gulf War in 1991, the scene depicts three women, united by grief, watched by unaffected uniform-clad oppressors.
Whilst some of her works are known for featuring intentional and descriptive borders that complete the painting, Threat contains no such imagery, instead incorporating the prone figures and ephemeral soldiers as semi-margins to the canvas. This creates the idea of an intangibly framed scene with a constantly shifting and flowing narrative, reflective of the emotional upheaval that all those affected by dissidence experience. As commented on by Nilima Sheikh the painting has a "pictorially active edge" which signifies how "the process of completion is usually in itself incomplete." (N. Sheikh, Arpita Singh, Oils and Watercolours, New Delhi, Vadehra Art Gallery, 1994)