The Art world recently suffered a great loss with the sudden demise of artist Tyeb Mehta.

The world renowned artist broke records and left Indians stunned and proud when his painting “Mahisasura*” sold for $1.58 million at a Christie's auction in 2005. (The private collector is said to have been of Indian origin).

Tyeb Mehta

Expressing the Art World’s loss, Vickram Sethi, Chairman of the “Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA)” says “ Tyeb Mehta’s passing away is a sad moment for Indian Art. A part of the Progressive Artists Group, he was from a generation that began the contemporary art movement in India. His falling man series and his rendering of Kali and Mahisasura were landmark paintings in Indian Art.  Softly spoken, he was a man of few words and never allowed illness to become a barrier from his art. If anything he used his art to fight his battle with cancer.”

My earlier blog “Contemporary Indian Art scene” acknowledges the efforts made by the Indian masters like Tyeb Mehta in gradually raising the profile of Indian art internationally. He was amongst the best selling artists within the international market and he should be credited with making the world take notice of Indian art and for having opened a window for Indian artists to the international arena. Admired and respected by his peers, Tyeb Mehta maintained a low profile and worked steadily at his art which encompassed not only paintings but sculptures as well, leaving a huge legacy at home in India and on the international stage.

Like so many of his time, he witnessed 'partition' and drew inferences from it which are reflected in certain works, the trademarks of his works being the bull and the horse.

Starting his career as a film maker, the multi-talented Tyeb Mehta won the Filmfare Critics Award for his documentary Koodal. The multi-award winner was also given the Padma Bhushan, part of the Padma Awards bestowed by the Indian Government to the highest level for exceptional service in any field.

Born in Gujarat he studied painting at J.J School of Art in Mumbai and came into contact with Akbar Padamsee, an extremely talented and famous Indian artist. He was also a close associate of the painters in the Progressive Artist’s Group. After a short stint in London and Paris he returned to India and organized his first solo exhibition at the Landmark Jehangir Art gallery in Bombay. He then shifted base to London for a few years before returning to India and then visiting the U.S on a Rockefeller Fellowship.

Tyeb Mehta participated in several international shows; Ten Contemporary Indian Painters at Trenton in the U.S., Deuxieme Biennial Internationale de Menton, Festival Intemationale de la Peinture, Cagnes- Sur-Mer, France, Modem Indian Paintings at Hirschhom Museum, Washington, and Seven Indian Painters at Gallerie Le Monde de U art, Paris.

Tyeb Mehta’s contribution to Art cannot be penned in just an article or even in a series of them. His demise happened at the same time as global, music superstar Michael Jackson and hence may not have received the media attention it truly warranted

Sunaina Anand, Director, Art Alive Gallery says “Tyeb Mehta’s powerful figures and the kinetic energy is unique to his works. He holds a very iconic and singular stature in the Indian contemporary art. A tradition in himself, he marked for us what it is to be modern as well as Indian in his own critical and appreciative way. His presence in the industry has been that of a senior educator and a role model whose works marked international presence of Indian contemporary art and influenced its value amongst wider audience. His works were truly a collector’s delight that reflected his inner quest for human figures in multiple manners that raised vital aesthetic and identity questions from time to time. He will be greatly missed.”

Tyeb Mehta's Mahishasura

Mehta’s ambitious, iconic piece Mahishasura was based on the Hindu epic. Mahishasura-the buffalo demon was born of a beautiful female demon who met Mahishasura’s father disguised as a she buffalo. Blessed by “Brahma” the Creator, where death would not befall him at the hands of any male, Mahishasura expanded his kingdom and finally entered heaven and defeated Indra, the King of all goods (his counterpart would be Zeus from Greek Mythology). The gods ran to the three Supreme Gods -  Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver. Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, to whom most Hindus pray are reincarnations of Vishnu) and Shiva (the destroyer).

Since Mahishasura could not die at the hands of a male, the Supreme Divinities decided to entrust this task to the Goddesses - Saraswati (goddess of Learning), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and Parvati (also Lord Shiva’s wife and mother to Lord Ganesha). They decided to create a female character, Durga, who would possess the combined power of the three Supreme Gods and the combined beauty of the female Goddesses. Durga further received a powerful weapon and magical powers from each of the gods to destroy Mahishasura.

She then set off on a Lion (a gift from Lord Himalaya, god of the mountains) to complete her task. The demons had little time to admire the radiant visage of their new adversary, for soon she engaged them on the battlefield and destroyed their armies gradually. Mahishasura realised that his boon did not insure him against a female. Durga's taunts and consistent challenges forbade him to withdraw from the war and he felt compelled to fight. In a desperate bid Mahishasura reverted to his own form, that of a buffalo, and charged about on the battlefield. In a wild rage he killed and injured many of Durga's soldiers with his huge pointed horns and long, whip-like tail. Durga's lion, angered by the presence of the demon-buffalo, attacked him. While he was thus engaged, Durga threw her noose around his neck. But Mahishasura kept changing his shape and form from one to another so as to avoid capture. Finally the Goddess beheaded the buffalo and from it emerged Mahishasura in his original form. Durga pierced his chest with a Trishul (three headed spear) and relieved the world from the evil power. (The story is also interpreted as getting rid of all vices and demonic attributes that all humans possess).

Tyeb Mehta, Indian Artist

Born: July 26, 1925 Kapadvanj, Gujurat
Died: July 2, 2009 Mumbai, Maharashtra