Karachi Series

Object Details

• Artist

  Riyas Komu (India, born 1971)

• Edition/State

  1/10

• Provenance

  2005-?

  Riyas Komu (b. 1971), Mumbai, India [1]

  ?-probably 2006

  Ownership information unknown

  Probably 2006

  Sale, probably online, Saffron Art, probably “Spring Auction 2006,” March 15-16, 2006, lot 115 [2]

  Probably 2006-2019

  Drs. Umesh and Sunanda Gaur, purchased at probably March 15-16, 2006, Saffron Art Sale, probably online [3]

  From 2019

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Drs. Umesh and Sunanda Gaur [4]

  Notes:

  [1] Riyas Komu created the photograph in 2005 and it is the 1st of 10 editions See the artist’s signature and the date in the lower right and the edition number “1/10” in the lower left.

  [2] See the Saffron Art lot record, copy in object file. The “Spring Auction 2006” sale is also called “Saffronart Contemporary Spring Online Auction.” Object is described as, “Riyas Komu [/] Karachi Series [/] Signed and dated in English (lower right) [/] 2005 [/] Photograph [/] 13.5 x 19.5 in (34.3 x 49.5 cm) (each) [/] These photographs are first in an edition of ten [/] This lot consists of two photographs.”

  [3] See the untitled titled object list, undated (ca. January 28, 2019), copy in object file. The object list indicates that Drs. Umesh and Sunanda Gaur acquired the 1st of 10 editions from Saffron Art on June 1, 2008 [sic?, March 15-16, 2006].

  See also “Temporary Custody Receipt,” number RLS2019.2, undated, copy in object file. The object was transferred from Drs. Umesh and Sunanda Gaur to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for acquisition consideration on March 14, 2019.

  [4] See Arthur M. Sackler, “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on May 14, 2019, copy in object file. See also the signed “Deed of Gift,” copy in object file. From 2019-2023 this work was part of the National Museum of Asian Art’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection and on March 21, 2023, the work was internally transferred to the National Museum of Asian Art Collection.

  Research updated July 26, 2024

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking In, Looking Out: Contemporary Indian Photography from the Gaur Collection (February 13, 2016 to May 6, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Riyas Komu (India, born 1971)

  Umesh Gaur

  Sunanda Gaur

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Gift of Drs. Umesh and Sunanda Gaur

• Type

  Photograph

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  2000s

• Name

  Komu, Riyas, Gaur, Sunanda, Gaur, Umesh

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Contemporary Art, Art

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Photographs