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Saffronart’s Kochi Biennale Foundation Fundraiser Auction, 31 October, 2017

Saffronart and the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) will hold a fundraiser auction on 31 October 2017 in support of India’s largest and most reputed arts festival. The KBF Fundraiser auction features artworks by over 40 leading modern and contemporary artists. Most artworks on offer have no reserve prices, and there will be no Buyer’s Premium on any of the lots. Net proceeds will benefit the efforts of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which showcases leading talent from India and around the world.

Among the lots on offer are works by Amrita Sher-Gil, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, Manisha Parekh, Varunika Saraf, Vivan Sundaram, Thukral and Tagra, Atul Dodiya, G R Iranna, B Manjunath Kamath, Parvathi Nayar, Bharat Sikka, Pushpamala N, and international artist Francesco Clemente. Some of the artworks have been donated by the artists themselves, making them patrons of the Biennale. Most artists have been represented at previous editions of the Biennale.

The auction features an exciting mix of photographs, paintings and sculptures. Among the highlights are two works on paper, dated 1927, by Amrita Sher-Gil. Sher-Gil was one of India’s most important women artists of the 20th century. Her works are rare to come by, and it is rarer still, for two of her artworks to be offered in the same auction. Also on offer is Ascending (2017), by leading Italian contemporary artist Francesco Clemente. Clemente, who first visited India in 1973, gained international fame when he participated in the Venice Biennale in 1970. His work has been shown at exhibitions around the world. Other auction highlights include T V Santhosh’s Uploads of a Survivor III (2013), Bharti Kher’s Duck Face (2016), Subodh Gupta’s Untitled (2017)—a stainless steel installation, and a set of two prints by Bharat Sikka (2014/15).

The auction highlights the efforts of Saffronart co-founders Minal and Dinesh Vazirani as supporters of art and culture. As the official auction house associated with the Biennale, this is the second time that Saffronart is partnering with the Kochi Biennale Foundation for a fundraiser auction. The first edition of the auction was held in April 2015, where net proceeds amounted to over INR 2 crores. 93% of the works sold, contributing to the funds needed to sustain the Biennale.

“As the largest art event in the country, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale has gained immense significance over the past three editions. Its efforts to enhance recognition and appreciation for emerging and established artists require the support of both the government and private institutions. Saffronart is proud to conduct the Kochi Biennale Foundation Fundraiser Auction, and support the Foundation in its fundraising efforts,” said Dinesh Vazirani, who will conduct the auction at Saffronart Mumbai.

The auction is preceded by viewings in Mumbai. All lots can be viewed on saffronart.com once the catalogue is available online. Bidding will take place in the room, online, on the phone, and on Saffronart’s mobile app.

Auction
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Registration: 7 pm
Auction: 8 pm

Viewings
27–30 October 2017
11 am – 7 pm, Monday to Saturday
Sunday by appointment

Venue
Saffronart
Industry Manor, Ground Floor
Appasaheb Marathe Marg
Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025

About the Kochi Biennale Foundation and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale

The Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) is a non-profit charitable trust engaged in promoting art & culture and educational activities in India; primary amongst them the hosting of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. KBF works around the year to strengthen contemporary art infrastructure and to broaden public access to art across India.

Co-founded in 2012 by Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu under the aegis of the KBF, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale is held every two years at Fort Kochi, and held its first edition over a span of three months, from December 2012 to March 2013. The second edition, “Whorled Explorations”, was curated by acclaimed artist Jitish Kallat, from December 2014 to March 2015. The third edition was curated by Sudarshan Shetty, and was titled “Forming in the Pupil of an Eye”.

About Saffronart

Founded in 2000 by Minal and Dinesh Vazirani, Saffronart is a leading international auction house, and India’s most reputed, with over a hundred auctions to its credit. It is headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in New Delhi, London and New York. At the forefront of selling Indian art, Saffronart holds online and live auctions, exhibitions, and prime property sales throughout the year. Its focus is to bring transparency to the auction process, and providing easy access to bidders around the world.

Saffronart’s services go beyond auctions to include private sales, art storage, appraisals and valuations for clients, and supporting the efforts of the Indian art world by holding fundraiser auctions. Saffronart has set several global benchmarks for online auctions, and was the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School in 2005.

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