Click to play videoNew Delhi: Eighty-four-year-old Tyeb Mehta, one of the big daddies of Indian art, died in Mumbai early on Thursday morning, following a blockage in his lungs.
The Padma Bhushan winner's steady progress from the early 1950s went unnoticed and he shot to fame only after 2003. His large triptych called Celebration was auctioned at Christie's for $300,000 making it the most expensive Indian painting to be auctioned ever.
This single event became the turning point for Indian art. In 2005 again, he broke all records. His work titled Mahishasura became the first ever Indian work to cross the million dollar mark at $1.5 million.
But for his friends, he will be remembred as a person who was never effected by his success and glory till the end.
Artist Anjolie Ela Menon says, "He (Tyeb Mehta) epitomizes that era of devotion to art."
Adds artist Ram Kumar, "The void will be felt because his physical presence was very important. He was a very social person, not locked up in his studio."
Despite breaking many records, Tyeb didn't cash in on rocketing art market and maintained low production of his works. We hope that he will be remembered for his ideological stand that defines the essence of being an artist.
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