Art exhibitions – solo, curated shows and group participations
Solo shows
In Focus artist at F Bar, Ashok Hotel, New Delhi, where a few selected latest works were shown to a very erudite audience. This is a rare honour where an artist is selected to talk about the works and the progression of the creations. A few senior people from the same field are also invited to speak about the artist’s work.
Moonbeams and Sundrops
held in New Delhi in May 2008 and in July 2008 in Bangalore, where the show focused on light in very subtle
abstractions.
Solo Painting exhibition Showers of Meteors held at Kalahita Art Gallery in Hyderabad in April 2007. The series fine tuned the artist’s preoccupation with light in its myriad manifestations – as pure, formless energy to reflect the light within to the light without.
Solo painting exhibition Whispers of Light held in Lalit Kala Akademi galleries in September 2006 that explored light in its various manifestations, be it in water, space or land, within the self and without and how they all form part of a larger connect that makes the collective.
Solo exhibition Resonating Reflections at the Galleria of the Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore in June 2009, with paintings based on the concept of Ananda.
Group shows abroad
Dubai
Muscat
Qatar
Homenaje a Fernando Santi Honorable Concejo Municipal de Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz Argentina, May 2009
Transiti Nomadi Museo d'arte Contemporanea di San Cesario, Italy, April 2009.
Rags in the Wind in Slovenia, held in August 2009.
Part of Different Strokes I, II held in Dubai and Muscat in October and November 2008.
Part of Worldwide exhibition on Giuseppe Garibaldi emanating from Naples, January 2008.
Part of the Adana Biennale in Turkey in December 2007, where her painting got special mention.
Group show Recent Works at the 1x1 Gallery, Dubai in September 2007.
Group exhibition at Art Attack during the Gulf Art Fair in Dubai in March 2007 where her work drew a very considered and yet spontaneous response.
Group Shows in India
Metamorphic celebrations in Gallery Ragini, New Delhi, May-June 2009.
Celebrating Recession inMystic Art Gallery, New Delhi, May 2009.
Hues in Myriads at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in May 2009.
Think @ forever at JMD gallery in Gurgaon, in May 2009
The untold Story by Art Junction, at The Lalit in April 2009.
In between the lines Mystic Art Gallery, New Delhi, April 2009.
Love and Peace in Mystic Art Gallery, New Delhi, January 2009.
20-20 by Mystic Art Gallery, New Delhi in December 2008.
Nostalgia of the 90s at Studio Vasant, New Delhi in November 2008.
Rainbow Expressions by Studio Vasant, New Delhi in November 2008.
Mystic Expressions at Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre by Mystic Art Gallery in October 2008.
Indo-British Art in September 2008 at Studio Vasant, New Delhi in October 2008.
It is Fabulous! It is Mind Blowing! At Studio Vasant, New Delhi in August 2008.
Mystic Abstracts and Figuratives at the Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, June 2008 and at Mystic Art Gallery, New Delhi in July 2008.
Art for Art’s Sake by Ashwini Bahadur at Epicentre, Gurgaon March 2008.
Group Show Windows of Hope by Sahaj Sankalp at Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in January 2008.
Group show From the Mind’s Eye by Enkita Arts and Studio Vasant, at Studio Vasant in New Delhi in December 2007-January 2008.
Group Show Art Smart by Enkita Arts and Ing Vysya Bank in Panchsheel Park and Vasant Vihar, New Delhi in December 2007.
Group Show Past, Present unto the Future Contemporary Art by Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi in December 2007.
Group show Dazzling Statements by Enkita Arts, at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in November 2007.
Group Show Resonating Metaphors by Enkita Arts at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in October-November 2007.
Group show Resounding Echoes at the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow, September 2007.
Group show Annual Show 2007 at the Sara Arakkal Galerie, Bangalore, August 2007.
Group Show Transitional Realities at FoxMondal and Little Art Gallery, NOIDA, August 2007.
Group show Encore! Art for Prabhat held in New Delhi in July 2007 to help raise funds for the mentally challenged.
Group show Art for Concern, a Concern India Foundation initiative held in New Delhi in June 2007.
Group exhibition on Buddha in May 2007 held on Buddha Purnima for the Canvas Art Gallery in May 2007.
Group exhibition Gurenica to Nithari held in the Canvas Art Gallery in April 2007, which delved into violence in all its manifestations.
Group exhibition as part of the Habiart Art Fair held in March 2007 and April 2007 with about 10 galleries participating in it at the Travancore House and the Radisson Hotel in New Delhi.
Part of By a construction site, a group show of 30 senior artists organized by the M E C Art gallery in New Delhi in October 2006.
Group exhibition Confluence held at the Art Enterence Gallery in Mumbai in August 2006.
Curated shows
Curated India Through My Eyes for Art Spice and Dhoomimal City Gallery in December 2008 featuring only serving diplomats/spouses. A special calendar of 2009 brought out on the occasion.
Curated group Show Resonating Metaphors by Enkita Arts at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in October-November 2007.
Curated Mindscapes of Mindspace, a solo exhibition of Manisha Gawade exploring the complex conundrum of human relationships, held at the Grand Hyatt in August 2007.
Curated Reflections Within, a group show with 35 major artists from all over India at the Lalit Kala Akademi in February 2007.
Curated Parallel Realities a solo show of Manisha Gawade on gender sensitive art at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in February 2007 and in Kalahita Art Gallery in Hyderabad in April 2007. Published a detailed catalogue on the exhibition.
Curated Silent Dreams, Voluble Realities, a group show of 25 artists from the 49th Annual National Exhibition of the Lalit Kala Akademi in March 2007 for the Bagash Art Gallery in Dubai. Wrote a detailed catalogue on the subject.
Curated Call of the Bamboos– a group show of artists from the North-East as part of the Octave 2006 festival held in Pragati Maidan in March 2006. Wrote for the portfolio brought out on the occasion.
Curated The Sikhs – soldiers of destiny an exhibition of photographs on the Sikhs, in April 2006. The exhibition was opened by Smt Gursharan Kaur, the wife of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in February 2006.
Curated Livable Art – a silent moment, an exhibition of paintings on art that goes beyond mere commerce, by senior artists like S Harsha Vardhana, Sudip Roy, Sudhir Tailang, Vinod Sharma among others, opened in November 2005 at the Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.
Curated Swatantrata – 50 years of education, a photographic exhibition on education in the 50 years since India’s independence with special emphasis on the progress of women on the occasion of the International Literacy Day celebrations in September 1997. Edited and wrote a detailed journal on the exhibition.
Curated and visualised Shamiyana – the big top of literacy, a multi-media exhibition on the role of the media on literacy and that of literacy on social uplift and empowerment. Edited and designed the exhibition journal for the Social Development Fair attended by 250 NGO's and government agencies in April 1997.
Curated and designed Sabala, a photo show on women’s empowerment, inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on the International Women’s Day in March 1997.
Conceived, visualised and curated Sakshar, an exhibition on posters and social change for the National Literacy Mission in September-October 1996. Edited, designed and wrote a catalogue for the show.
Curated and conceived Shatadru, a workshop and exhibition bringing together 50 crafts women and contemporary women painters to trace the shared sensibilities of feminine creativity in collaboration with Crafts Museum and Lalit Kala Akademi in March and April 1995. Also edited, wrote and published a detailed catalogue on the subject.
Published Works
A Moment in Time with Legends of Indian Arts, a collection of interviews with 22 top artistes including Ravi Shankar, M S Subbulakshmi, M F Hussain, Ebrahim Alkazi, Yamini Krishnamurti, etc, who have changed the performing and visual arts scene of the Indian subcontinent. The President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, released the book at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in July 1995. The book is into its third edition.
Pathfinders, a collection of interviews with international personalities who have done pioneering work in their respective fields. Some of them are German dancer Pina Baush, American musician Philip Glass, British painter Howard Hodgkins, French mime Marcel Marceau and Pakistani poet Ahmad Faraz, writer Bapsi Sidhwa, singers Iqbal Bano and Mallika Pukhraj among others. It was launched at the British Council in 2003.
Literacy for Empowerment – edited and visualized the publication which delineates the various aspects that literacy impacts. To be launched at the international conference on literacy in Beijing, China in early December 2005.
Ultimate India – Edited and contributed to this publication as well as was actively involved in its design and visualization. The book showcases some of the highpoints of Indian culture and heritage. (To be launched in June 2006)
Voluntary Action in Literacy – Edited and produced this publication on the voluntary activities in literacy all over India. Published jointly by the National Literacy Mission and the UNESCO on the occasion of the International Literacy Day in 2003.
Classical Dances of India – Series Editor of the set of seven books written by top performers of the seven classical dance forms. Commissioned, edited and curated the visuals of the books published by Wisdom Tree.
Smoking Beauties – Edited the publication and curated the visuals of this composite book on steam engines book in India and abroad.
Women and Literacy – Edited, contributed to and produced this publication brought out by National Literacy Mission and UNESCO. Released by the President of India, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma on the International Literacy Day in September 1996.
Assisted in the editing of Rang Yatra, a publication from the National School of Drama for its silver jubilee celebrations in 1992, tracing the history of theatre in independent India.
Spirit of Literacy – Edited, contributed to and produced this publication on various aspects of literacy since the Indian Independence in 1947. Published jointly by the National Literacy Mission and UNESCO. Released by the President of India, Mr. K R Narayanan, on September 8, 1997.
Celebrations -- Edited and wrote this publication documenting the use of performing arts in literacy and education, published by the National Literacy Mission.
Print Media
(January 2008 to June 2009)
Working on research and writing of Garhwal Himalayas Garhwal Himalayas – Where the Gods whisper, a highly illustrated book on the myths, legends and folklore that sets the Garhwal Himalayas apart from the rest of the Himalayas. Book in production.
April 2006 till November 2008)
Working on research and writing of Traditional Indian Jewellery a highly illustrated book on the various forms and styles of jewellery in India, the designs, craftsmanship and rituals associated with jewellery. Book in production.
(July 2005 till February 2006)
Niyogi Publishers – Consulting editor
Commissioning, editing and writing for the publishing house. It specializes in highly illustrated glossy publications with a focus on books on Indian art, culture and heritage.
(January 2003 till June 2005)Wisdom Tree – Editor-in-chief
(January 2002 to December 2002)
BBC World Service Trust -- Manager Print Media
Job profile: Handling the print component of the BBC World Service Trust initiatives in India. Writing, editing, designing and producing all the print material.
(July 2000 to November 2000)
Editor Swagat – Indian Airlines in-flight magazine. Job profile: Writing, editing, designing, planning and assigning for the over 150 pages, all-colour monthly.
Editor-in-Chief of Literacy Mission, monthly magazine of the Government of India (Ministry of HRD) National Literacy Mission from April 1997 till June 1998. Wrote regularly, assigned articles, planned, scheduled and produced the publication.
(August 1991 till June 1995)
Arts Editor of national daily The Pioneer, New Delhi. Covered, planned, commissioned and scheduled articles on all aspects of the arts - performing, visual, plastic and literary - from all over the country and abroad. In addition wrote on tourism, media and gender-related issues for the main newspaper and the magazine section.
(July 1989 till August 1991)
Senior sub-editor The Times of India, New Delhi. Brought out night editions independently apart from covering major media, art and literary events for the paper.
(April 1982 till July 1989)
Sub-editor The Indian Express, New Delhi, covered major music, tourism, design and womens’ issues for the paper.
Weekly columnnist for The Financial Express from 1982 to 1991 on major film, cultural, media and literary events.
Have written over 350 features and articles on various issues and subjects which have appeared in Frontline, Hindustan Times, Swagat, India Magazine, Span, UNI Features Service and Economic Times among other publications.
Conducted lectures at the Times Research Foundation (Time of India Group) on various aspects of editing, layout and page designing.
Audio-visual and multi media experience:
(October 1999 to June 2000) General Manger of pioneerarts.com
Manjit Bawa, Manu Parekh, Kanchan Chander, Bulbul Sharma, Vinod Sharma, and Subroto Kundu among others. A monthly exhibition opened with a new artist every month in this gallery, which was curated and selected by me.
An art advisory service for corporate and individuals who needed advice on arts related
subjects on what to buy, where to buy and whom to buy from and what and whom to sponsor in the performing arts. In addition, wrote a weekly column – Straight from the Art for the portal, which was also carried in the Pioneer newspaper.
Consulting Editor of the television programme Artscape, telecast on Doordarshan channel 3.
Worked on film on the profile of DPEP aimed at policy makers, donor agencies and international delegates.
Produced and compered several programmes of Delhi Doordarshan and Satellite Television both in Hindi and English.
Produced and compered over 200 programmes for various channels of All India Radio in Hindi, English and Urdu on a variety of subjects including performing arts and a very popular one on women professionals.
(April 1995 to April 1998)
Media consultant to the Government of India’s Human Resource Development Ministry on literacy.
Job profile: Designed and implemented advocacy strategy for the National Literacy Mission. Advised, designed, edited and produced publications on various aspects of literacy. Networked with the print and audio-visual media on the literacy programme on an all-India basis. Created a detailed media plan for the National Literacy Mission and worked on its implementation.
Other positions held:
Director of the Art Education Trust, which works with visual and performing artists/ artistes in areas relating to arts and its relevance in education. The trust holds workshops, exhibitions and seminars and has been bringing out publications on related subjects since October 1995.
Trustee of India’s premier arts complex Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, since July 1995. Involved in the decision-making process of the complex.
Member of the organising committee of the International Film Festival 1995
Member of the jury of the Akashwani Annual Awards 1995.
Member of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Education, core group on the national programme for media publicity and advocacy of elementary education since 1997.
Awards and Honours
Awarded the Chameli Devi Jain award for outstanding women media person for 1993 by the Media Foundation.
Recipient of the Charles Wallace Memorial Trust Award, Britain, for 1997-98.
Foreign Assignments
Covered Avignon festival of arts in France in 1992, the Edinburgh festival in Scotland in 1994 and a major Indian exhibition in Schallaborg, Austria in 1994. Have covered arts related and other stories also from the United States of America, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Britain.
Attached to the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, as part of the Charles Wallace Trust Award fellowship for curating.
Worked on research and production of an international publication on the Amravati sculptures at the British Museum, London.