Highlights
- Marcus Hotblack is a car-designer and is based in Pune, located in the western state of India.
- Picked up painting in India after a long gap
- Has raised over INR 300,000 by selling his artwork
It was work that took Melbourne-based Marcus Hotblack to India in 2013.
“I worked as a car designer with Ford in Melbourne and after the plant shut down, I was looking for work when I came across this job in India. My grandmother was born in India and spent two decades there so I grew up listening very positive things about India. So I took up the job,” Mr Hotblack told SBS Hindi.
When his family could not join him in India, it gave Mr Hotblack some free time to pursue a long-time hobby.
“That gave me the opportunity to pick up painting again. After many years,” Mr Hotblack says who graduated in Art and Design and Product Design.
Over five years, Mr Hotblack visited numerous places in and around Pune city, located approximately 150 km from India's financial capital, Mumbai where he painted over hundreds of paintings.
“I painted all sorts of stuff – Indian scenes and Indian subjects, streets, people and how their kids behave. My paintings have an element of story-telling,” he shares.
He has also exhibited his painting collection in Mumbai and Pune.
But a trip back home in last Christmas compelled him to sell off his priced collection.
“I came home for Christmas and was quite shocked by the scale of devastation. I saw it on television but when you see it with your eyes, makes you very aware.
“My niece was caught in the bushfire mayhem and it really drove it home," he said.
Severe drought followed by record-breaking temperatures fuelled a series of bushfires across Australia in summer which killed at least 33 people and affected millions of hectares of bush, forests and parks across Australia.
It is estimated that over a billion animals have died in the recent bushfire season.
“I immediately felt like I wanted to do something to help out. But I did not know how to?
“I discussed it with my family and learnt that an animal shelter has opened up and they needed help.
“All I had were my paintings so I decided to sell them to raise funds to help out,” he says.
Mr Hotblack returned to India and opened up his home to exhibit and sell his collection.
“I decided I won’t be selective. I had some favourites but I put it all out there. I opened up my apartment, shared it on social media and spread the word,” he says.
Mr Hotblack has raised over $6,000 AUD (INR 300,000) by selling his paintings.
"I intend to put 50 per cent to wildlife Victoria and the other 50 per cent to Red Cross," he said.
‘Every young person should have a stint in India’
Mr Hotblack is nearing the end of his work contract in India and is expected to return to Melbourne in April this year.
“India has absolutely grown on me. I love the place, I like the people and have had the privilege to enjoy and witness so many cultures.
“India often gets misinterpreted in media. I like to call it organised chaos. Once you live here, you get the rhythm of the place.
“Every young person should have a stint in India,” he says.
Mr Hotblack plans to continue painting once he returns to Melbourne for his retirement.
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