The story of Indian art - MARIO MIRANDA 1
ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND EXPERIENCE THE WORLD
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The purpose of art is washing the dust away of daily life off our soul. Pablo Picaso
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CONTENTS • A WARM HEARTED GENIUS •PROFESSIONAL WONDER •RECOGNITION •RETIREMENT •MONDEGAR CAFE •4 CLASSIC DRAWINGS OF MARIO •MARIO GALLERY •HIS WORK •AVAILABLE MERCHDISES •BOOKS
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A WARM HEARTED GENIUS MARIO Mário João Carlos do Rosário de Brito Miranda-was born in Daman, then in Portuguese India, to Catholic parents. At an early age when his mother saw him drawing on his home’s walls, she brought him a blank book, which he calls his “Diary”. Mario Miranda’s early cartoons presented vignettes of Goan village life, which is known for even today.
Mario de Miranda has not formally studied Art and began his career as a Cartoonist for the Times of India Group in 1953. He later moved into illustration and fine art. He has illustrated numerous books including Inside Goa by Manohar Malgonkar, A family in Goa and The Open Eyes by Dom Moraes. He has been invited to sketch and exhibit in many Countries.
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PROFESSIONAL WONDERSMario’s first job was in an advertising studio. He worked here for four years, before taking up cartooning full-time. His first break as a cartoonist came via the good offices of The Illustrated Weekly of India. Soon, Mario’s creations – Miss Fonseca and Miss Nimbupani – began appearing in The Times of India, Femina, and The Economic Times as well. In 1974, Mario was invited to by the United States Information Services to travel to America. There he interact with other cartoonists in the United States and was presented with an opportunity to work with Charles M. Schulz (the creator of Peanuts) and meet Herblock, the editorial cartoonist of The Washington Post.
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RECOGNITIONMiranda’s big break came in 1974, when, at the invitation of the United States Information Services, he travelled to America, which enabled him to promote his art and interact with other cartoonists in the United States.He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and All India Cartoonists’s Association, Bangalore, honoured him with a lifetime achievement award.The King of Spain, Juan Carlos, conferred on Mario the highest civilian honour of “Cross of the Order of Isabel the Catholic” which was presented to him on 11 November 2009 Mario Miranda was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, in the Republic of India, by the President on 4 April 2012.
RETIREMENTAfter retirement, Miranda lived in his ancestral home, at Loutolim, Goa, with his wife, younger son, and their pets. Trivia: The 1985 Shyam Benegal film, Trikaal, featured Mario’s ancestral home. On 11 December 2011,
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MONDEGAR CAFECafe Mondegar (a.k.a. Café Mondegar and Mondy’s) is amongst the first (along with Leopold Cafe) and most iconic restaurant and bars in Mumbai, India. Cafe Mondegar is the first restaurant in Mumbai to house a jukebox. The restaurant is a popular landmark and touristic attraction of Mumbai. Famous Indian cartoonist and painter Mario Miranda painted murals (his cartoons) on all inner walls and entrance ceiling of the restaurant. In 1990s, then owner asked Mario Miranda to draw murals (cartoons) on two opposite walls of Café Mondegar. Both walls have different themes. Whilst one wall is dedicated to the Life in Mumbai, the other wall is dedicated to Atmosphere in the Café.
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FOUR CLASSIC DRAWINGS BY MARIO MIRANDA1. THE BACHELOR APARTMENT
It was done originally for a magazine called Cocktail in Bombay. It’s done on yellow paper and it’s got a wonderful detail about it: the kind of magazines that the man is looking at, the books and the overall mess in the apartment.
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2. MAN AT THE CORNER This was done by him when he was in New York for an exhibition. Once Mario stopped working for The Times of India in the eighties, he became a freelancer. He was taken to New York by the United States Information Services for a month to draw whatever he wanted to. It is here that this water-colour painting was realised. He did a wonderful series of pictures there, which reflected the spirit of New York. This one is one of my favourites in that series.
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3. MANGESHI TEMPLE The Mangeshi Temple is the most famous temple in Goa. It’s a straightforward, pure sketch: it’s got these beautiful buildings and has a symbolic significance to Goa.
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4. VILLAGE BUS It’s based on the old Goan buses he used to travel in till about 20-25 years ago. This bus scene is something he used to draw from childhood as he was very amused by it. He’s drawn himself sitting on a seat with two big-breasted women sitting next to him. He was always looking at things and exaggerating them.
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MARIO GALLERYAn exhibition named A pocketful of chuckles on the works of Mário de Miranda is also being held by Galeria Gitanjali, Panjim from the 30th April, 2016. This is the largest exhibition on the original paintings of Mario de Miranda. The life of Mario: 1949 was also brought out by Gerard da Cunha, a 288-page compilation of caricatures by the 23-year old Mario Miranda in 1949. This is the third in a series that includes the years 1950 and 1951 “Mario Miranda’s biggest exhibition in state gets under
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HIS WORK-
Mario Miranda Mumbai Water Shortage
Boat ride Togetherness
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AVAILABLE MERCHANDISES
KIT BAGS
CUSHION COVERS
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CLUTCH
TIN BOX
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CROCKERY
MUGS
PLATESS
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LAMPSHADES
POSTCARD COLLECTION
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BOOKS
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MARIO MIRANDA IS AN INDIAN LEGEND, HIS WORK IS INPIRSTION FOR SO MANY YOUNG ARTIST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HE HAS MADE GOA MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WITH BEACHES AND BARS., HE HAS GIVEN GOA ANOTHER DEFINATION ALTOGETHER.
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