Page 134 - Christie's Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings hk may 226 27 2021

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ASIAN COLLECTION 亞洲私人收藏 (LOTS 1118-1123)

The famous Indian painter Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, who illuminated the original
Constitution of India and frescoed Martyr-Memorial Concert Hall, lived in different
parts of China between 1957-59 as a scholar but also as India’s cultural emissary. The
objective was to forge a strong cross-cultural bridge between two great civilisations
by way of fine arts. While promoting Indian art in China, he gained expertise in
fine Chinese painting and lacquer-work from great contemporary masters at first
hand, such as Qi Baishi (1864-1957) and his contemporaries and followers, including
Chen Banding (1877-1970), Wu Zuoren (1908-1997), Luo Ming (1912-1998), and
Li Keran (1907-1989), whose artworks from this collection we sold in 2017 Autumn
(Lots 1295-1299).

In 1957, Qi Baishi introduced him to Li Kuchan, with whom Rammanohar shared
studio in Beijing for months. In that period, he demonstrated and tutored the Indian
elements of painting to the students of Central Academy of Fine Arts and in turn,
Rammanohar witnessed the nuanced skills of the Xieyi-way of depicting various
aspects of forms and movements of birds and flowers, which was Li Kuchan’s forte.

This collection of Li Kuchan’s paintings, demonstrations, studies and rough-works
were divided by subject matter into five parts: Birds, Narcissus & Flowers, Loquats,
Lotuses, and Plum Blossoms. In addition, a Pink Lotus (Lot 1118) finished by
Rammanohar (pinned to the wall behind Rammanohar in the accompanying photo)
is also present, which was exhibited in Rammanohar’s comprehensive shows in 1958
in different institutes of China, such as Central Academy of Fine Arts, National
Central University Institute of Fine Arts, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Zhejiang
Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Wuchang Institute of Fine
Arts, Southwest Academy of Fine Arts, and Northwest Academy of Fine Arts. This
collection provides a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to get a glimpse
of Rammanohar’s artistic endeavour and Li Kuchan’s brilliance not only as an artist,
but also as a teacher.
辛哈（1929-2007），印度著名藝術家。他最重要的作品包括為印度憲法手稿創
作裝飾圖案等。1957年至1959年期間，印度政府派遣辛哈作為文化使者前往中
國，目的是建立兩國文化交流的橋樑。除了傳播印度藝術之外，辛哈亦藉此機
會向齊白石和其他著名藝術家學習中國藝術，如陳半丁、吳作人、羅銘、李可
染等。佳士得2017年秋季曾拍賣多件辛哈舊藏的李可染作品多幅（拍品1295-
1299）。

1957年，齊白石介紹辛哈與李苦禪認識，他們之後在北京的同一個畫室裡工作
了一段時間，期間辛哈向中央美術學院的師生展示和教導印度的繪畫元素，並
同時從李苦禪學習了寫意畫法的技巧與及寫意花鳥的各種形態。 1118

本專題將辛哈所藏苦襌畫稿按題材分為五部分：禽鳥、水仙花卉、枇杷、荷
花、梅花，另外也有辛哈本人創作寫意荷花《粉荷》（見附圖掛在辛哈背後作
品，拍品1118）。此幅《粉荷》更是辛哈1958年的巡迴展覽中多次展出，其中
包括中央美術學院、浙江美術學院、湖北美術學院、西南美術學院、西北美術
學院。苦襌畫稿極少見於市場，本專題給收藏家和藝術愛好者暸解李苦禪的藝
術提供一個寶貴的機會。
1118
BEOHAR RAMMANOHAR SINHA (1929-2007)
Pink Lotus
Scroll, mounted on cardboard and framed, ink and colour
on paper
96.5 x 45 cm. (38 x 17 Æ in.)
Signed, with one seal of the artist
HK$20,000-30,000 US$2,600-3,800
辛哈 粉荷 設色紙本 紙板鏡框
Li Kuchan (left) and Rammanohar in their
studio in Beijing, c. 1957-58. 印地文款識：辛哈。
李苦禪（左）與辛哈1957至1958年間在
李氏北京的畫室。 鈐印：辛哈

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