Anshuman Mohta on How Living With Art Reshaped His Outlook

Growing up surrounded by the vibrant canvases of Masters M.F. Husain, B. Prabha, and Hemendranath Mazumdar in his family homes, Anshuman Mohta developed an innate appreciation for art in his earliest years. It’s fair to say that basking in the glory of great artists invites you into a world where art is not just present, but central. “Whenever I would visit a friend’s home, a beautiful painting or sculpture would always catch my attention, and I could recognise some artists’ works by just looking at them from a distance. I always had an eye for art, and, in a way, it called out to me. My first purchase was a Paresh Maity that I bought in 2011,” he says.

THE ART OF DOING BUSINESS
Passion and patience—these two words have guided Mohta’s quest to find the kind of art that speaks to his soul. He firmly believes that collecting the ‘right’ art, much like building a solid business or enterprise, requires time. “Unless you’re passionate about what you do, you’re not driven—the same goes for art. You must go the extra mile to find good quality works.”

Similarly, Mohta feels that an enviable art collection can only be built over time. He says, “Some businesses take time to blossom and there’s a gestation period before you break even. An art collection, too, must be built over time, and you need to be patient in finding the right works.”

Being exposed to art from a young age has another advantage—it has influenced the way Mohta looks at leadership and creativity in business. “It has encouraged me to think out of the box as artistic activities promote imaginative solutions and breakthrough ideas. Art has also helped foster innovation and helped me develop a new perspective by seeing challenges from multiple viewpoints.”

Read the full story in the premiere issue of LuxeTrope, on stands now.