26th July 2024 marks the 99th birth anniversary of exceptional modernist painter, filmmaker, and sculptor, Tyeb Mehta. His works often featured themes of existential angst, alienation, and the human condition, rendered in a figurative and expressionistic manner.
Born in 1925, in Kapadvanj, Gujarat, most of his early life was spent in Mumbai. After finishing school he wished to pursue a career in movies, considering his family also had connections in Hindi cinema. He worked as a film editor in a cinema laboratory at Famous Studios as he was obsessed with the film medium. He was encouraged by his acquaintance on a tram, A A Majid, to join the art school, and in 1952, Mehta attended the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai. Here he trained under prominent artists such as Shankar Palsikar and also studied with the influential painter Francis Newton Souza. During the 1946-1947 period, he witnessed the tragic incidents of the partition period. He saw a man being killed in the partition riots which affected him deeply.
Tyeb Mehta spent several years in London and lived there till 1964. This experience broadened his artistic horizons and was influenced by the expressionist works of Francis Bacon. This exposure to European modernist movements further shaped his distinctive style. He received a fellowship from the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fund in 1968, in New York, his work during this period came to be characterised by minimalism. Upon returning to India, Mehta became associated with the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay, a collective that sought to break away from traditional artistic norms and explore new forms of expression. Alongside artists like Souza, Husain, Raza, and others, Mehta played a crucial role in defining modern Indian art.
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The most iconic motif associated with Tyeb Mehta is the falling figure, depicted in his series of ‘Falling Figures’. Mehta depicts human figures in a state of descent or falling, frequently against a clear background. The figures are rendered with sharp, angular lines, contributing to a sense of brokenness and dislocation. This composition not only captures physical motion but also evokes a deeper emotional and psychological narrative.
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Mehta also frequently used diagonal lines to divide his canvases to create a sense of tension and fragmentation. This stylistic choice reflected the socio-political context of India, particularly the partition of the country in 1947, and broader themes of division and alienation. The hands and human figures, often distorted or elongated, are other recurring motifs in Mehta’s art. They symbolise human suffering, resilience, and the struggle for identity in a rapidly changing world
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Another significant motif in Mehta’s work is the ‘Trussed Bull’. This image originates from his childhood memories of witnessing the slaughter of animals in his hometown of Gujarat. The bull represents a primal force and a metaphor for the human condition, often depicted in intense and vibrant colours against a stark background.
Tyeb Mehta’s contribution to Indian art earned him numerous awards and accolades during his lifetime including the Padma Bhushan, Government of India, 2007; Filmfare Critics Award for the film ‘Koodal’, 1970; National Exhibition Award, Lalit Kala Academy, 1965, among others. His artworks are now part of prestigious collections worldwide, and he remains one of the most celebrated artists in the history of Indian modernism. The artist’s works continue to be highly regarded both in India and abroad.
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