Aussie sisters in Kashi to take father’s works home
VARANASI : Two sisters from Australia are in Varanasi to fulfil their late artist father’s wish to return to their country with his works.
Their father Fryderyk Framroze Mehta, an Australian geologist with Indian ancestry and an abiding interest in art, made bronze sculptures and carved beautiful images on marble slabs during his many visits to Varanasi between 2010 and 2017, said his daughters India Mehta and Inez Edwards, both of whom live in Western Australia.
“My father was in immense love with this place. He frequently visited Varanasi and made these beautiful sculptures and also carved out unique pictures on marble slabs. He told me about these sculptures and his artwork,” India said. He created 21 bronze sculptures and 18 pieces of marble art during his stay in Varanasi.
He often talked about Varanasi as he liked the city a lot. My father was planning to visit India (again) last year. But he passed away in September 2017 all of a sudden,” India added.
A few months before his death, Fryderyk Framroze Mehta told her that he wanted to bring home his artwork, which was kept safe with his friend Prof Madan Lal.
India regrets not jotting down the details. As a result, she kept wondering how she would fulfil his wish.
India said, “I posted the sad news of my father’s demise on my facebook account. His friend Madan Lal was shocked to know the artist was no more. He expressed his grief and informed that all art works and a few belongings of my father Fred are preserved well and we may take them to Australia.”
“Then, we made a plan to come to Varanasi. We reached Varanasi on January 19 and called on prof Madan Lal. He gave us a warm welcome. It is great to find all the sculptures made by my father. These are placed well,” India said.
Her sister Inez was equally delighted on seeing their father’s belongings, including a khadi jacket, a pair of sandals, two stoles, a satchel, paintbrush, needle and some other tools which Fryderyk used to create art in the city.
“We are quite thankful to prof Madan Lal who preserved his artworks and belongings,” Inez said.
Lal helped India and her sister in organising an exhibition of sculptures and Fryderyk’s belongings at the Ishi Gallery under the aegis of the Ram Chhatpar Shilp Nyas in the Samne Ghat area of the city. The exhibition opened on January 21 and will conclude on January 25.
Their father first visited Varanasi about 30 years ago. He returned to the ancient city 10 years to create some works of art, staying at a hotel in the Assi area where he met professor Madan Lal.
Prof Madan Lal, who teaches sculpture at BHU’s department of classic arts, said, “Fryderyk got in touch with me in 2010 and we became friends. He visited Varanasi several times in the last seven years and created several beautiful sculptures. I kept them safe. When I came to know about his demise through facebook, I told his daughters to come to India and take sculptures and belongings stored here to Australia.”
“He was a great artist and great human being. He used to sit on the bank of the Ganga and make sculptures,” he recalled.
India said, “We will carry all sculptures and marble slabs to Australia, if possible, in one go or will take as many as we can carry this time and the rest, the next time.”
Lal is associated with the nyas as its founder and life trustee.
Caption: Australian national India Mehta and her sister Inez Edwards at an exhibition of sculptures by their late father Fryderyk Framroze Mehta in Varanasi.