Progressive art gallery has become the first one to organise a solo retrospective on Raza in the Middle East.
The demand for the esteemed works of celebrated artist SH Raza has soared following the retrospective titled ‘Raza: The Other Modern’ dedicated solely to Raza’s creations, making it one and only exhibition in Dubai which has dedicated a whole show only to Raza. This unprecedented event marks a pivotal moment in the global art scene, as Raza’s paintings have claimed their position as one of the most expensive Indian artworks. Last year, at a Pundole’s auction, Raza’s Gestation fetched ₹51.75 crore. Which made it the second most expensive Indian painting till date, Similarly two of the Raza’s Paintings were sold cumulatively for ₹86 crores recently by iconic Sotheby’s and France’s Métayer-Mermoz.
Organised by the Progressive Art Gallery, the retrospective honouring SH Raza has become a focal point for art enthusiasts worldwide, igniting a fervent desire for Raza’s pieces in the global market. Exclusive artworks by Raza are being showcased, underscoring the unparalleled significance of the exhibition as the first solo exhibition dedicated to Raza in the Middle East. The Director of the Progressive Art Gallery, Harsh Vardhan Singh said “The reason I chose SH Raza is because of his universal appeal and the growing demand of his artworks in the international market also there had been no solo show on raza in entire Middle East and to make the people witness the masterpieces of the Indian Arts Treasury”.
Harsh added that as the show is going on, the people not only from the Middle East but from all over the world are coming to get a glimpse of the wonderful Raza’s artworks.
What distinguishes Raza’s works and elevates their value to unprecedented heights is meticulously explored in a newly launched book ‘Raza:The Other Modern’, Published by Mapin publishing has detailed essays by art appreciators and veterans including Ashok Vajpeyi, Yashodhra Dalmia, Gayatri Sinha, and Geeti Sen have contributed their insights to this publication, delving into the intricacies and nuances of Raza’s artistic brilliance.
The convergence of the retrospective and the book launch has generated a palpable buzz within the art community, Raza’s legacy continues to captivate audiences around the globe, his timeless creations stand as a testament to his enduring influence on the world of art.
Ashok Vajpeyi in an Essay of this book describes Raza “Man with an Indian Vision and French sens de la plastique coalescing to create a unique modernism, a master of colours, concepts and creativity while exploring dissonance, disquiet and a tension between life and death.
He added ”Raza’s art could be seen in the context of bridging the dichotomy of spiritual and sensuous, which eventually tells us the range, depth and complexity of the art piece”. Yashodhrya Dalmia described “Raza’s early painting of rainwashed seafront or the drizzling light of the night that spackled the dark or the drenched streets and the people created a magnetic periscopic effect”. Dalmia also shared that Raza actively participated in group discussion and debates with fellow artists like MF Hussain, F.N. Souza on the ethical artistic practices and freedom of expression in the modern art culture.
Geeti Sen, one of the authors of the book added, “The collection of Raza’s art at progressive art gallery is rare and incomparable in its comprehensive range of works from late 1930s to 2010”.