The Times of India: The case of the fake Bawa

Manjit Bawa's daughter Bhavna alleges that fakes of her father's paintings are circulating in the art market.

3 Jun, 2007 l 0000 hrs ISTlJAYA DRONA /AGENCIES

While Indian art is going places and transcending barriers, there is an ugly development shaping up in the art circuit too. Artist Manjit Bawa's daughter Bhavna Bawa claims that her father's paintings are being faked. "I have learnt that about three of dad's works have been faked in the last one-and-a-half years.

One of the reasons behind this is the increasing prices. Since dad went into coma, the prices of his works are increasing by lakhs every few months. I will not like to take any names, but I know about the works that have been faked. One is a painting with a yellow background that has Radha-Krishna painted in the centre ," she explains. So, how will a buyer distinguish between the real thing and a fake?

"The figure in this painting is bad and a person who knows Manjit Bawa's work will make out the difference within minutes . Dad used certain signs to show ageing in his paintings, which these fakes lack. Also, none of dad's paintings are perfect," she says. "In yet another painting, dad's old style of painting has been copied. To show that the painting is old, there's oil leakage on it, and also the effect of termites . The effort has been made to show that the painting is damaged and is a masterpiece. All this is only to bluff the restorer," she adds. Bhavna is planning to take legal recourse. "I have met my lawyer in this regard and I may file a case. I am looking at various aspects," she says.