TYEB MEHTA (1925-2009)

The Bombay slaughterhouse and in particular the image of a trussed bull, provided recurring inspiration for Tyeb Mehta: "My images are very carefully chosen. [...] For me the trussed bull is a compulsive image. [...] It served as a metaphor for the violent struggles one experiences in life: [...] the bull is a powerful animal and when its legs are tied and it's thrown down, it is an assault on life itself."(Y. Dalmia, 'Tyeb Mehta: Beyond Narrative Painting', Art Heritage 9, New Delhi, 1989-90, pp. 76, 84)