Word pictures
The Tree Book (Pp: 17); The Body Book (Pp: 13) by Mehlli Gobhai. Published in 2022 by Talking Club, an imprint of Speaking Tiger Books LLP, 125A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049. Price: Rs 499 each.
Mehlli Gobhai’s two books in a chunky tile-like format are a delight to behold. In fact, the best part of these two books are their covers, beautifully framed with the titles in bold brush strokes, with a textured finish that is retained through the inside pages.
Gobhai’s tryst with the earth is evident in both the books. In particular, it has to be said, the one called The Tree Book. It de-constructs the different components of what may be an elemental tree form. Do we protest that the different parts of the tree that appear on different pages seem to mix up leaves, flowers, buds and tree trunks from diverse sources? It’s understood that this is not an experiment in botanical tree lore. It is somewhat confusing, however, when one looks at the flower shapes that go from what appears to be a plant growing off the ground into a bud, a half-open tulip or trumpet flower forms into a full-blown artificial flower that at best could be a poinsettia.
These pages are followed by a double page of grass stalks. Even if we agree that minimalism is the whole point of the book, it’s hard not to expect an ant, or dragonfly hovering over the stalks. Maybe, that’s the whole point; you can add your own details to the empty space. Do we then complain that the fruits that follow the narrative are either oranges, or apples, or none of the above?
As we turn the pages, wondering whether there can be such a bright red bird that lays a single egg without a partner, and then find a nest with more eggs, we actually do come across a dragonfly and wonderfully painted butterflies, not exactly as nature would have them, but as an artist might design them.
Finally, at the very end of the book there is a surprise. Since the two pages are meant to be a "Wow!” moment we shall not divulge their secrets. It does however answer all the previous reservations.
Artist Mehlli Gobhai (top); (above) illustrations from his books
The Body Book is in the same genre. The editors suggest in a note at the back: "In this beautiful little art book, without words, a great painter shows little ones (and older ones, too) the wonder that is our body. What are its parts, how does it move?”
Again, there are plenty of white spaces around the hands, feet and mouth… images that can allow you to add any details should you feel inspired.
This reviewer, however, was reminded of the Dutch artist Dick Bruna who in his time had produced a series of books in a unique style that brought his graphic images to life in the quirkiest of ways, particularly in a rabbit named Milly. He worked with black ink outlines and cut-out shapes in red, blue, green, yellow and sometimes in brown on a single page. He called himself an illustrator. Bruna sold more than 124 of his picture books in 50 languages, we are told. Is it an unfair comparison?
Gobhai’s square tiles carry with them their own charm. They are a reminder of the simplicity and wisdom with which he walked through the gardens of his life.
Gobhai (1931-2018), as the editors remind us, was a painter and an illustrator. He had studied at the Royal College of Art, London, after getting a degree at the St Xavier’s College, Bombay and further at the Art Students League and the Pratt Graphic Centre in New York. He returned to Bombay in the late 1980s.
Amongst his other books for children are The Legend of the Orange Princess; Lakshmi, the Water Buffalo Who Wouldn’t; and Usha, the Mouse Maiden.
GEETA DOCTOR
Doctor, a longtime contributor to Parsiana, is a writer and critic.