Explore The Work Of Award-Winning Indian Artists at Indiyart
What makes art valuable? Is it time, skill, tradition, philosophy, creativity, or a combination of all of them? While the true meaning of ‘art’ remains a heavily debated topic, it is the effect and interpretation of the artist that give meaning to a work of art. Celebrated artists understand how to create an effortless blend of skill and story, and Rooftop is proud to announce that more than 25 such artists will be displaying their work at the Indiyart exhibition. So head on over to Bikaner House, Delhi, for your chance to meet award-winning artists at Indiyart.
Let’s look at some of the artists that will display their best work as a part of Rooftop’s Indiyart exhibition, which will be held between September 16 and 19 at Bikaner House.
Venkat Singh Shyam: Gond Art
Venkat Singh Shyam trained under his uncle, the legendary Jangarh Singh Shyam. He depicts the bond between nature and people and the damage that humans have caused to the environment. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to Gond art and has also participated in many national and international exhibitions.
Gond art is bold and vibrant, and Venkat Ji uses this traditional art form to explore contemporary themes and topics. He also teaches an extensive, in-depth online course on Gond art in collaboration with Rooftop App.
Lado Bai, Bhuri Bai: Bhil art
Lado Bai is a celebrated Bhil artist who is most well known for her paintings of Bhil rituals and animal life. She often departs from the traditional Bhil techniques and modifies certain elements in a contemporary manner. She has collaborated with artist Bhuri Bai on several paintings and murals. Her work has been featured at several exhibitions throughout India and abroad in France and the United Kingdom.
Bhuri Bai is a renowned Bhil artist who was discovered by modern artist Jagdish Swaminathan. She was the first Bhil artist to transition from walls to paper and canvas. Bhuri Ji collaborated with Lado Ji on several paintings and murals, some of which featured in the book ‘The Perceiving Fingers’ published by Bharat Bhavan. Bhuri Bai teaches an extensive course on Bhil art on the Rooftop App. The course is more than seven hours long, multi-level, and available in Hindi as well as English.
Bhil art is an indigenous art form that features depictions of local flora and fauna, mythological tales, and Bhil folklore. Lado Bai’s Bhil art prominently depicts animals and features her signature motif of wave-like dotted patterns. Discover the indigenous spirit of tribal art forms by viewing Lado Bai’s artwork at Indiyart.
Rajaram Sharma: Pichwai Painting
Rajaram Sharma trained under the Guru-Shishya Parampara at Nathdwara Temple and was tutored by the renowned Late Shri Tulsidas Chitrakar. He is a master of Pichwai and Miniature painting. His miniature paintings are devoid of human figures, whereas he prominently depicts human characters in his Pichwai paintings. He will display several paintings at the Indiyart exhibition.
Rajarm Ji has received various awards such as the National Merit Certificate and the All India Award of Traditional Art. He has also collaborated with Rooftop App to curate a 9-hour multi-level course in Pichwai painting techniques.
Chitara Family: Mata ni Pachedi
The Chitara family of Gujarat depicts both traditional and contemporary themes in their Mata ni Pachedi paintings. The mother goddess is a central motif of this art form, and the Tree of Life tapestries by the Chitara family are also very popular. They make their paintings following traditional processes and with natural pigments.
The Chitara family has also collaborated with Rooftop to create a 7-hour online course on Mata ni Pachedi. Artwork from the legendary artists Chandrakant Chitara, Kiran Chitara, Kirit Chitara, and Satish Chitara will be on display at the Indiyart exhibition.
KaIyan Joshi and Abhishek Joshi: Phad Painting
Kalyan Joshi
Kalyan Joshi revolutionised the Phad art form and made it relevant and accessible in modern times. He started painting on smaller canvases and drawing stories other than the traditional ones that were associated with Phad. He has won various awards, such as the National Award, the Gauri Shankar Mehta Award, Maru Parampara and the National Merit Award. Kalyan Ji is also the instructor of the Maestro Course on Phad Painting on the Rooftop App.
Abhishek Joshi
Abhishek Joshi has also made several important contributions to Phad painting and has received awards such as the Maharana Sajjan Singh Award, the Rashtriya Kalidas Chitra & Murti Kala Pradarshni. He is also a Limca Book World Record Holder. He also practises Pichwai art and wall painting.
Abhishek Ji and Kalyan Ji also worked on the innovative Phad se Padh programme, which aimed to bring traditional Indian art to schools and explore it as a means of learning. Explore the work of these award-winning artists at the Indiyart exhibition.
Vijay Mhase, Pravin Mhase, and Anil Vangad: Warli Painting
Vijay Mhase and Pravin Mhase
The Mhase family continues to refine and explore Warli paintings by introducing new themes and concepts into their art. They continue the legacy of revolutionary artist Jivya Soma Mhase, who was responsible for introducing Warli art to national and international audiences.
Vijay Mhase depicts the complexity of the world by using simplified shapes in his paintings. Pravin Mhase also uses traditional techniques to skillfully depict his surroundings. They capture the relationship that tribal communities share with the environment. Along with other members of the Mhase family, these artists also teach the simplified intricacy of Warli painting through an online course on the tribal art form.
Anil Vangad
Anil Vangad learned Warli painting from his mother and would accompany her when she visited weddings to paint wall murals. His paintings centre around the equilibrium between nature and humanity and how all living beings must exist in harmony. He has received the World Craft Council Award of Excellence from UNESCO for his contributions to Warli art.
Vijay Mhase, Pravin Mhase, and Anil Vangad previously collaborated on a Warli painting that was on display at the Republic Day Parade in 2022. Walk in and explore the rich culture of the Warli tribal community through the work of these award-winning artists at Indiyart.
D. Venkat Ramana and Mallesham Pasula: Cheriyal paintings
Dhanalakota Venkat Ramana will display his Cheriyal paintings alongside other award-winning artists at Indiyart. He began painting at the tender age of 10 years old. He is a master of Nakashi art and works in collaboration with his wife, Deepika, to create scroll paintings, masks, and other utility items.
Mallesham Pasula took up the ancient art form of Cheriyal painting and added elements of modernity to it. Pasula’s family is one of the two families in Cheriyal that are working to keep this Nakashi tradition alive. Mallesham and his wife sell Cheriyal paintings and handicrafts online and also accept commissions from various cities across the country.
He has been creating Cheriyal art for the past 27 years, has been part of several prestigious exhibitions, government workshops, and programmes, winning numerous awards including the Master Craftsman State Award.
Dulari Devi, Hema Devi, and Ambika Devi: Madhubani Painting
Dulari Devi
A celebrated Madhubani artist, Padma Shri Dulari Devi displays the incredible skill of storytelling in her paintings. She depicts themes of women empowerment, social issues, and current events, as well as traditional themes of Gods, Goddesses, and other mythological narratives.
Hema Devi
Hema Devi was born into a family of Madhubani artists and developed an interest in it at an early age. She won the National Award in 2016 and has also received other awards such as the Bihar Kala award, the Sita Devi award, and the Bihar State Award for Paper Mache. Hema Ji represented Madhubani at the International Folk Art Festival in Amsterdam.
Hema Ji typically creates intricate paintings of animal motifs in the Kacchni style. She also hand-paints Bharni and Godna designs on dupattas and sarees.
Ambika Devi
Ambika Devi learned Madhubani art from her mother, National Award-winning artist Leela Devi. She crafts the handmade khadi paper she works on and uses plant and mineral pigments to create paints. She represented Madhubani art at the Nantong International Contemporary Craft Biennale in 2014, organised by the World Crafts Council.
Her paintings contain religious themes and depictions of nature. She has won the National Handicrafts Award, the Kamala Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship, and the Sanmaan Award by the Crafts Council of Telangana.
Anandilal Sharma, Mahaveer Swami, Asharam Meghwal, Virendra Bannu, Shammi Bannu, Sampat Raj Bochiya, Khushnarayan Jangid, and Bhanwar Lal Kumawat: Miniature Paintings
Miniature paintings are filled with breathtaking portrayals of royalty, daily life, and scenery. Indian miniature paintings feature a myriad of styles, themes, and motifs. Indiayart will display the work of eight eminent miniature artists, each representing different schools of Indian miniature painting.
Anandilal Sharma: Nathdwara School of Miniature Painting
Anandilal Sharma practises Nathdwara miniature painting. He is proficient in the traditional Nathdwara school and follows the ancient techniques and guidelines of the art form. Anandi Ji states that he lets his devotion guide his artistic process and that art is dependent on the viewer’s interpretation of it.
Mahaveer Swami: Bikaner School of Miniature Painting
Mahaveer Swami revived the Bikaner school of art with his novel take on miniature painting. He derived inspiration from Jaipur and Rajasthani miniatures to develop a unique style of his own. He was tutored by the late Shri Vedpal Sharma, ‘Bannu’. This National Award winner has taught numerous workshops and displayed his artwork at art galleries in Paris, Belgium, New York, Washington, and many other cities and countries.
His paintings display themes such as mythological figures and depictions of flora and fauna, and he also ventures into uncommon and contemporary themes like exploring the daily lives of Indian women. His novel use of themes and styles sets him apart from other miniature artists.
Asharam Meghwal: Jaipur School of Miniature Painting
Asharam Meghwal’s passion for art led him to leave home and move to Jaipur to train under the wing of skilled artists Durgeshji, Kripal Singh, and Nathulalj. He has mastered the Jaipur style of Miniature painting.
Asharam was awarded the National Award in 2001. He can use 12 brush-holding techniques and often demonstrates this technique to aspiring artists, as well as teaching them methods to quickly improve their skills. Asharam primarily paints scenes from Indian history with a focus on Rajasthani historical events, forts, and folklore.
Virendra Bannu : Deogarh School of Miniature Painting
Virendra Bannu’s family has been practising Miniature painting for 7 generations. His work is displayed at numerous hotels and residences in India. He has won the Best Drawing Award from the Lalit Kala Academy and the state-level Academy Award.
Virendra Ji teaches students and aspiring artists the art of miniature painting at the Bannu School. He has also experimented with mirrorwork, glass work, murals, and wall painting.
Shammi Bannu: Jaipur and Mughal School of Miniature Painting
Shammi Bannu Sharma has 31 years of experience in Jaipur and Mughal-style Miniature painting. He is a 7th-generation artist of the Bannu family. Shammi has conducted workshops at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and his miniature paintings are part of several private and museum collections. He uses traditional techniques and prepares his paints from natural mineral pigments.
Shammi Bannu was awarded the National President Award in 2014.
Sampat Raj Bochiya : Jodhpur School of Miniature Painting
Sampat Raj derives inspiration from Jaipur, Mughal miniature paintings in Udaipur, and the captivating brilliance of Pichwai art. He abandoned traditional academia in his pursuits of artistic passion, and his creativity presents itself through the passion and creativity that are displayed in his artwork. He is one of the many award-winning artists at Indiyart who display the unique intricacies associated with the many different styles of miniature painting.
Khushnarayan Jangid : Kishangarh School of Miniature Painting
Khushnarayan Jangid has been practising Miniature painting for three decades. He is a masterful storyteller and employs colours and designs to illustrate tales from around the world. He also portrays historical and mythological narratives in his work.
Khushnarayan Ji has won the Lalit Kala Academy State Award, Master Craftsman by DIC, Jaipur, and the National Kalidas Award.
Bhanwar Lal Kumawat : Mewar School of Miniature Painting
Bhanwar Lal Kumawat is a wall and fresco painter. His paintings at the Mandawa Fort were discovered by foreign tourists, and on their request, he worked on hotel projects in South Africa and Mauritius. Bhanwar learned painting from his father, and his father left painting to pursue masonry, as there wasn’t much demand for such art back in the day. The revival of royal artistry and traditional aesthetics led Bhanwar Lal to explore Mewar Miniature painting techniques.
Come to Bikaner House and Experience the Work of Extraordinary Artists at Indiyart!
These eminent artists will be displaying their artwork at Bikaner House, Delhi, between 16th to 19th September. What’s more, you can view the exhibition completely free of charge! You can even buy any of the artwork on display and take home a piece of rich heritage and artistry. Additionally, many of these artists will be conducting exclusive art workshops alongside the exhibition. Entry to the workshops is paid and restricted to 15 seats per art form. So what are you waiting for? Book your spot today at https://pages.razorpay.com/indiyartworkshops.
Can’t make it to Delhi between September 16 and 19 and don’t want to miss out on the magical world of Indian art? Download the Rooftop app from Google Play or the App Store to stay updated on upcoming art events and workshops. Or enrol in a Maestro course and learn traditional Indian art forms anytime, anywhere.
Stay tuned to Rooftop blogs and @rooftop_app for more updates on Indiyart, the amalgamation of India, DIY, and art.
By Melissa D’Mello
