Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Sohan Qadri Biography
Sohan Qadri was a distinguished Indian artist, poet, yogi, and Tantric guru whose work and life were deeply intertwined with spirituality and meditation. Born on November 2, 1932, in the village of Chachoki in Punjab, India, Qadri grew up in a setting that was rural and simple, yet rich in spiritual heritage. His family was well-off, with his mother being Hindu and his father Sikh, which provided him with a diverse religious and cultural background.
From a young age, Qadri was drawn to the spiritual realm, influenced by two significant figures: Bikham Giri, a Bengali Tantric-Vajrayan yogi, and Ahmed Ali Shah Qadri, a Sufi. These early encounters with spiritualists set him on a path of deep introspection and artistic exploration. At the tender age of seven, he was initiated into yogic practice, which would become a cornerstone of his life and work.
Qadri's education was traditional until he matriculated, becoming the first child in his village to do so. His artistic talents were evident early on, and despite his mother's wishes for him to take over the family farm, he pursued his passion for art. He apprenticed with Pyara Singh, a photographer in Jullandhar, Punjab, and later moved to Bombay to work as a still photographer in a Bollywood studio. However, his tenure in the film industry was short-lived, as he resigned after completing two films.
In 1955, Qadri enrolled in the Simla College of Art, where he further honed his skills and connected with the burgeoning Indian modernist movement. He rubbed shoulders with prominent artists such as M.F. Husain, Syed Haider Raza, and J. Swaminathan, who were part of a collective effort to define Indian modernism beyond figuration. After completing his degree, Qadri returned to Phagwara and joined the faculty of the Phagwara Teachers Training College.
Qadri's artistic breakthrough came when Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, founder and editor of the art journal Marg, discovered his work. Anand, along with Pierre Jeanneret, cousin of the renowned architect Le Corbusier, became Qadri's patrons. This support led to Qadri's first exhibition at Gandhi Bhavan, the Punjab University Library art gallery designed by Jeanneret.
Throughout his career, Qadri's work evolved from figurative to abstract, as he sought to transcend the material world and express spiritual concepts. He developed a unique method of painting that involved soaking paper in liquid, carving it, and applying inks and dyes. This process not only created vibrant, minimalist works but also served as a form of meditation for the artist.
Qadri left India in 1965 and embarked on a journey that took him to various parts of the world, including East Africa, North America, Paris, and Zurich. He eventually settled in Copenhagen, where he lived for 30 years and held over 70 exhibitions across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. His work, characterized by its luminous colors and Tantric symbolism, captured the essence of his spiritual practice and the landscapes of his Scandinavian surroundings.
His contributions to the art world have been recognized by numerous museums, with his works being included in the collections of prestigious institutions such as The British Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. In 2011, Skira Editore published a monograph titled "Sohan Qadri: The Seer," which featured over eighty color plates of his works and scholarly essays discussing his artistic journey and philosophy.
Sohan Qadri passed away on March 2, 2011, in Toronto, Canada, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and influence artists and spiritual seekers alike. His life's work stands as a testament to the power of art as a medium for exploring and expressing the deepest realms of human consciousness and spirituality.
Sohan Qadri Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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