- 52
Sayed Haider Raza
Description
- Sayed Haider Raza
- Bindu (Five Elements)
- Signed, dated, titled and inscribed 'RAZA / "BINDU" / (five elements) / 100 x 100 cm / 1999 / Acrylic on canvas’ on reverse
- Acrylic on canvas
- 96.5 x 96.5 cm. (38 x 38 in.)
- Painted in 1999
Provenance
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."
Catalogue Note
Colour is another dominant component of Raza’s oeuvre. His pre-occupation with nature stemmed from his childhood memories spent in the forests of his native village of Babaria, in Madhya Pradesh. His use of primary colours highlights the elements of nature; red, blue, yellow, white and black comprise fire, water, wind, earth and the sun. He utilises points, lines and diagonals to "explore the forces that control the sacred order in the universe, and to express these forces" (ibid., p.137).
This delicately rendered painting is an early example of Raza's depictions of the Bindu. He went on to perfect this symbolism throughout the 1980-1990s. Devoid of any figures or forms, this striking work also hails from a simpler time before a multitude of shapes and words started to pervade his canvases. 'Like the universal order of the earth-seed relationship, the original form of the Bindu emerges and unfolds itself in black space. All inherent forces unite. A vertical line intersects a horizontal line, engendering energy and light. Space is charged' (ibid., p. 107).