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Excellence is not one time phenomenon; rather it’s a
habit, performed repeatedly. Tyeb Mehta belongs to
the clan which has made excellence, its second
nature.
Tyeb Mehta was born in July 1925 in Kapadvanj
district of Gujarat. He is not only one of the
greatest artists of India but also an acclaimed
painter. After working as a film editor in a cinema
laboratory, his interest in painting led him to Sir
J.J.School of Art, Mumbai from where he graduated in
1952.To further his interest, he made a short visit
of four months to London and Paris.
After his return, he focused intensely on the art of
painting and sculpture which saw him participating
in many exhibitions. He organized first solo
exhibition of his art at the Jehangir Art Gallery,
Mumbai, in 1959.
With a desire to accentuate his skills and learning,
he left for London where he lived and worked from
1959 to 1964. He also made a visit to USA on a
Rockfeller Fellowship in 1968 .He also tried his
hand at film-making which made him win Film fare
critic’s award in 1970 for his experimental film
Koodal. He is also a Recipient of Kalidas Samman by
the Madhya Pradesh Government in 1988. Truly, Mehta
is a multi-faceted personality.
In addition to a range of solo exhibitions, he has
also participated in several international shows
too. Immaculate in nature, he is one of the most
influential artists of India. To think of the fact
that, he chose his calling when there was not much
knowledge and understanding about the art, says a
lot about his resolve. He has certainly contributed
a lot for the art of painting and sculpture in India
by means of awareness and exposure.
What makes Tyeb Mehta so renowned and hugely
respected? The answer lies in his works which are a
clear reflection of supreme authenticity and
wonderful assortment of honesty and intent. Adding
to that is the ever growing repertoire of his craft
in various other modes of painting. What else can
one ask from a painter?
Another distinct mark of his strong identity and
proud national origin is his affinity with
mythological characters in his works. This not only
shows his knowledge about the Indian traditions but
also explains a lot about his commitment and
consideration. His versatility is unmistakably
reflected in, from painting images of rickshaw-wallahs
and the tethered bull, to intricate, encrusted
images and concepts of Hindu mythology.
As a confirmation of his brilliance, Mehta’s
paintings fetch the maximum prices of any living
Indian artist. He possess the record for the highest
price an Indian painting has ever been sold in a
public auction for “Celebration” at Christie’s, New
York in 2002.Adding to that his painting “Mahisasura,”
brought $1.58 million , the first time a modern
Indian painting had crossed the million-dollar mark.
Tyeb Mehta’s hugely influential works, across six
decades makes him one of the supreme names in modern
Indian art. At the forefront of rise of Indian art,
his name will be etched in the canals of great
Indian artists.
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