Bhupen Khakhar’s Champaner artwork fetches 14.4cr in auction

Vadodara: This painting was a birthday gift from a veteran artist to an eminent architect in the city.
The artwork made by Padma Shri Bhupen Khakhar was sold for Rs 14.4 crore in the spring live auction held by Saffron Art on Wednesday. It was one of the highest priced artworks to be sold by the auction house on Wednesday.
“I am happy that his artwork carries such good value,” said Karan Grover who also features in the painting.Grover said that the painting had been with him since 1996 and his son gave it for auction some months ago.
An oil-on-canvas untitled painting, the work depicts Grover as a frontal figure in the backdrop of the Champaner landscape. Khakhar decided to paint Champaner as the Heritage Trust run by Grover was instrumental in getting UNESCO World Heritage Site tag Champaner, located 50 km from Vadodara.
As per the description, Grover’s gaze is averted and his stance was slightly awkward in the painting that also has shadowy featureless men gathering in the pockets of the landscape set against a waterbody. He is holding a champa flower in his hand. According to folklore, the stone from which the Champaner fort was made, appeared creamy white coloured when gleaming in sunlight. The colour resembled that of Champa flower and hence the name.
The auction house had set a price of the artwork which was untitled but called Champaner between Rs six crore to Rs eight crore.
A self-taught artist, Khakhar moved from Mumbai to Vadodara in 1962 when he was in his thirties. He was a key figure in the Faculty of Fine Arts in M S University. After his artworks began travelling globally, Khakhar also made his first trip abroad in 1976 as a part of the cultural exchange programme organized by the Indian government. His works focused on the daily struggles of the common man and depicted average people. His works were often compared to English painter David Hockney.
In 1984, Khakhar was honoured with the Padma Shri, and in 2000 he was awarded the Prince Claus Award at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. His works are on display at the British Museum as well as in the US. He died in Vadodara in 2003 at the age of 69. In 2022, his painting ‘Banyan Tree’ was sold for Rs 18.81 crore during an auction held by Christie’s auction house.