There are no shortcuts in art: Mansoori

Amarjot Kaur

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At the art workshop by Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi in The Capitol Complex organised as a part of the ongoing Arts and Heritage Festival, Nabibakhsh Mansoori takes a table and plonks his easel right under a mango tree. Just as he begins to paint, he puts his Korean-made Mission water colours on the table, pulls out the tubes that read cerulean indigo, deep pink and bright yellow, taking slight proportions on his brush and making careful strokes on his canvas. Not that one has the heart to intrude into his creative ventures, but the sheer observation of him engrossed in painting makes you a wee bit curious. One hastens to talk as soon as he looks up and heads for lunch.

Hailing from Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, visiting Chandigarh has been on Nabibakhsh’s wish list for quite some time. “Living in Gandginagar, people would often mention Chandigarh and how the two cities are quite similar. So, I was more than looking forward to coming down to Chandigarh, which, (now I can safely say) is quite like Gandhinagar.”

However, it’s not just the mention of Chandigarh that prompts a conversation with Nabibakhsh, art and his understanding of artist seemed like his forte. And why not, the man has shared a special camaraderie with MF Husain, of whom he speaks quite fondly of.

“I have always known Husain as a very honest and transparent man, which came across quite evidently in his disposition as an artist too,” begins Nabibakhsh, who taught at the CN Fine Arts College, Ahmadabad. “Those days, I was a struggling artist and would paint anything from number plates of cars and scooters to hoardings and painting Ganesha for marriages. I met Husain saab at Rajshree Theatre In Gandhinagar. I asked if he noticed the painting. Soon after, he questioned if I painted it, and upon me saying yes he hugged me and praised my work.”

Nabibakhsh recollects several incidents that he shared with his Husain Saab, who he says, was also his biggest critic. “This one time I had painted a series on Lord Krishna and Husain Saab did not like it at all. He asked me to get out of his face and take the paintings away; else he will tear them off. I was on the verge of crying back then,” he reminisces.

However, Nabibakhsh also believes that India has been quite unfair with his Husain Saab. “I think every artist has an expression and Husain saab had his own expression. India has been really unfair with him,” he adds.

Nabibakhsh’s journey, as an artist, has witnessed several twists and turns, right from the time when he failed in Standard XII to his early marriage.

While Nabibakhsh struggled with odd jobs after his first exhibition flopped, he shares that it was only self belief that pulled him through. “I had a chance meeting with an art collector named Anil Relia, who bought my all paintings and offered me my first job,” he remembers. Nabibakhsh believes that art is his life and of art scene, he shares, “There are only two kinds of artists. The ones who can’t draw a straight line and buy ready-made art calling it their own, and the ones who believe in riyaaz and practice. I am fond of the latter and I hope people realise that there are no shortcuts in art,” he signs off. Well, guess that stands true for life too.

amarjot@tribunemail.com