REDEMPTION SonG FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA
GQ India|June - July 2024
He was condemned, celebrated and copied. Exploring the life and legacy of India's most controversial artist a century after his birth.
VIVEK MENEZES
REDEMPTION SonG FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA

ON 12 APRIL, exactly one hundred years from the day he was born in his mother's family home in the tiny North Goa village of Saligao, in what was then still the Estado da Índia of Portugal, an unlikely spontaneous gathering of relatives, friends, and fans of the late great Francis Newton Souza gathered in the 90-year-old Saligao Institute clubhouse. It was an unexpectedly joyous event, replete with laughter and music, and a wonderful cake decorated by Keren Souza-Kohn and Solomon Souza, the artist's daughter and grandson-gifted artists themselves-who had flown in from Jerusalem because "how could we miss out being here today?" Libia "Libby" Lobo Sardesai-the renowned anti-colonial freedom fighter who grew up with Souza at Crawford Market in Mumbai, and herself turned 100 in May-was a lively, luminous presence, as was Dayanita Singh, who has achieved greater international renown than any other living Indian artist, and has her own deep-rooted creative connection with Saligao. I was there, too, to honour my friend and mentor from New York in the 1990s-we had bonded deep across our age differences-and couldn't help but marvel at the contrast with Souza's funeral at Sewri in 2002, where he was laid to rest without any family present, amidst a handful of hangers-on the artist had conspicuously loathed.

Esta historia es de la edición June - July 2024 de GQ India.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición June - July 2024 de GQ India.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE GQ INDIAVer todo
The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
GQ India

The 30 Best Watches Of 2024

Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October - November 2024
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
GQ India

Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...

Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.

time-read
8 minutos  |
October - November 2024
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
GQ India

The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame

In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October - November 2024
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
GQ India

"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October - November 2024
The Wedding Singers
GQ India

The Wedding Singers

Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.

time-read
5 minutos  |
October - November 2024
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
GQ India

A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.

time-read
3 minutos  |
October - November 2024
The Fluidity of Cartier
GQ India

The Fluidity of Cartier

Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.

time-read
2 minutos  |
October - November 2024
A Princess with Passion
GQ India

A Princess with Passion

From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.

time-read
6 minutos  |
October - November 2024
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
GQ India

THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ

The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.

time-read
10 minutos  |
August - September 2024
DEMNA UNMASKED
GQ India

DEMNA UNMASKED

He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
August - September 2024