[Arvind Vijaymohan's Art Blog] Tyeb Mehta (1925 - 2009)

[Arvind Vijaymohan]

Tyeb Mehta passed away last week. It is unfortunate that little more than blurbs were dedicated to a man who was inarguably amongst India’s most powerful artists. Not surprisingly though, far greater column-space and airtime with gushing reportage was dedicated to his name when his works created records in auctions over the years.

Looking at the larger picture, his contribution to Indian art is indelible and he will remain a strong source of inspiration for generations of artists and art-lovers to follow.

And his name will be in print frequently: auction records will continue to fall.

I would appreciate it much if all the readers of this post would keep Tyebji in their thoughts and prayers today – a small tribute to a generous and humble human being. And a legendary artist.

I have posted a selection of some of my favourite canvases painted over the last 5 decades. These have been placed chronologically beginning with the 60's and cover his selection of enduring motifs: the falling figure, the trussed bull, the diagonal series, the rickshaw puller and the mythological figures like Kali and Mahishasura. These works offer us a view of his practice, particularly his minimal yet compellingly potent handling of line and form as it evolved.


1960s

Untitled / Oil on board / 47 x 71 inches
featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 17 Oct 2001, NY

1960s

Untitled / Oil on canvas / 49¼ x 37 1/8 inches
Featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 25 March 2004, NY

c. 1961

Rickshaw Puller / Oil on canvas / 60 x 40 inches
Featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 23 Sept. 2004, NY

c. 1972

Diagonal Series / oil on canvas / 35 x 45 inches
Featured in the Christie's Twentieth century Indian art sale, 5 Oct. 1999, London

c. 1974

Untitled / oil on canvas / 58 x 49 inches
Featured in the Christie's southeast Asian sale, 6 July 2003, HK

c. 1976

Diagonal Series / oil on canvas / 44 x 35 inches
Featured in the Christie's twentieth century Indian art sale, 5 Oct 1999, London

c. 1977

Gesture / oil on canvas / 58 x 46 inches
Featured in the Christie's twentieth century Indian art sale, 5 Oct 1999, London

c. 1977

Gesture - III / Oil on canvas / 59 x 47 inches
Featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast Asian sale, 20 Sept 2000, NY

c. 1981

Untitled / oil on canvas / 59 x 47 inches
Featured in the south Asian modern + contemporary art sale, 20 March 2008, NY

c. 1984

Untitled (Figure on Rickshaw) / oil on canvas / 59 x 47 inches
Featured in the Christie's S. Asian modern + cont. art sale, 11 June 2008, London

c. 1984

Untitled (Figures with Bull Head) / oil on canvas /59 x 41 inches
Featured in the Christie's modern and contemporary Indian art sale, 20 Sept. 2006, NY

c. 1984

Woman on rickshaw / oil on canvas / 59.1 x 47.2 inches
from the Glenbarra Art Museum collection, Japan

c. 1987

Drummer / Acrylic on canvas / 45 x 35 inches
Featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 25 March 2004, NY

c. 1994

Mahishasura / Acrylic on canvas / 59 x 47 inches
Featured in the Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 19 September 2002, NY

c. 1995

Celebration / Acrylic on canvas / 94 x 202 inches
Featured in the Christie's Indian and southeast asian art sale, 19 September 2002, NY

c. 1995

Mahisasura / acrylic on canvas / 150 cm x 120 cm

from the Glenbarra Museum collection, Glenbarra, Japan

c. 1996

Mahishasura / acrylic on canvas / 59 x 47 inches
Featured in the south Asian modern + contemporary art sale, 20 September 2007, NY

c. 1997

Mahisasura / Acrylic on canvas / 59 x 47 inches

Featured in the Indian and southeast Asian art sale, 21 September 2005, NY

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Images and work courtesy
The Glenbarra Art Museum collection, Japan http://www.glenbarra.com/
Christie's http://www.christies.com/
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© AVM

Arvind Vijaymohan heads the Japa Arts Advisory, which offers specialised consultancy services to collectors of Indian art. / www.japaarts.in /

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Posted By Arvind Vijaymohan to Arvind Vijaymohan's Art Blog at 7/03/2009 06:41:00 AM