Manu Parekh
Born 1939 at Ahmedabad, Manu Parekh studied drawing and painting from Sir JJ School of Art, Bombay. His career has spanned varied experiences ranging from being a painter to acting and designing. A stint as Art Designer at the Weavers' Service Center, Bombay and then as Design Consultant for the Handicraft and Handloom Export Corporation of India, took him on extensive travels throughout India besides Europe, USSR and elsewhere, before his turning to full time painting. Manu Parekh's deft handling of his imagery, texture, palette and the variety of subjects that encompass his creative outpouring are manifest in his amazing Benaras series and still life works. The energy of the organic form and the inherent sexuality within the forms are intangible elements in this prolificCoach Outlet artist's paintings that provoke viewers to take note of the world around with its volatile energy and the attendant emotions of anguish or joy. In his skillful brush strokes the ghats, the river, the boats, the temples and the surroundings capture the colour, culture and mood of the city and its people. Remarkable for its play with light and shade, echoing the changing colours and moods of the flowers are his works in still life series that present a picture perfect imagery. Recipient of the Padma Shree, National Award of the LKA, Doctor of Literature, Rabindra Bharti University and the President's Silver Plaque among other honours, Manu Parekh has been associated with various Indian art institutions and international projects. He has had several solo and group exhibitions including those held at the NGMA Delhi, Smithsonian in USA, Art Alive, Delhi, Vadehra Art Gallery, Delhi, and 45 feet long Mural at Mumbai Airport besides many other solo and group shows. Two books have recently been brought out on this artist who has also been the subject of a film. His work is held in many public and private collections in India and abroad. Manu lives and works in Delhi.
- Biography courtesy: Art Positive
Madhavi Parekh
Born in Sanjaya, a village in Gujarat, Madhvi Parekh reflects her rural influences in her stylized folk art.
Married to Manu Parekh, an artist from J.J.School of Art, Madhvi gained much of her exposure to art and inspiration for her paintings, from him. She explored the possibility of depicting her childhood memories through her paintings, where images of fantasy and early days are woven into her entire work, which lend it a surreal, dreamlike quality.
Her subjects have a freshness and spontaneity to them. Although her themes always revolve around images that affect her; her compositions are flexible, and all her paintings have a strong sense of design.
There is an element of emancipation in the majority of Madhvi's works, where man is depicted free from the tyranny of mechanical time.
Madhvi's work has its inspiration in rural India, while her style is contemporary; influenced by artists such as Paul Klee and Clemente.
She has been exhibiting her work all over the world since 1972 and has close to a hundred solo and group shows to her credit including “Last Supper”, Kolkatta 2011, India Habitat Centre, N. Delhi, 2013 and two sculptures, “Udan Khatolla” at Mumbai Airport 2013.
