A LIFE FULL OF ART...

In an exclusive interview with Bazaar India editor NANDINI BHALLA, contemporary artist SUBODH GUPTA shares personal anecdotes on art, theatre, and life.

- NANDINI BHALLA

Nandini Bhalla: What were you like as a little boy?

Subodh Gupta: “I don’t have a vivid memory of my childhood, but I do remember that my father worked for the railways. However, when my father suddenly passed away, everything changed. I had to move to the village where my mother was born, to continue my studies. Nanapur, the village where my mother’s family lived, had a British influence...such as the cinema that screened English movies at 10 o’clock every weekend. I recall my mother taking me to the theatre quite frequently. If I am an artist today, it is because of my mother’s influence in introducing me to cinema and nurturing my creativity. The seeds were sown in my mind at a very young age, due to which I pursued theatre for five years after completing school, before attending art school.”

NB: What roles did you play during your five years in theatre?

SG: “In a small-town theatre, there weren’t specific roles, but it taught me a lot about discipline. We would make posters, gather equipment, sell tickets, design stages, and do our own make-up. We took care of every aspect ourselves. This discipline instilled in me has had a more significant impact on my artistic journey than my formal education at art school. Initially, I wanted to become an actor, but a friend noticed my talent for creating posters and suggested that I consider art school. That’s when I made the decision to pursue art.”

NB: When you look back now, what was that pivotal moment that pushed you towards becoming an artist?