Mona Rai

Mona Rai

Mona Rai (b.1947) received a Master’s in Psychology at Delhi University and studied art at Triveni Kala Sangam. Rai is an abstractionist who explores the expressive potential of different materials such as metallic leaves, fabrics, glitter, sand, gravel, dirt and ash in her paintings. Her process is rooted in risk-taking. Many of her works, both on canvas and paper, resemble battlegrounds: scorched, trampled, slit, wounded, scratched, scarred, bleeding and weeping to rend objects into emotional states and aesthetic consciousness. At other times, she creates shimmering fields of color that dazzle and oscillate in the light, with imagery informed by craft production and ritual art forms. Rai takes inspiration from her environment, responding to nature and its manifestations in the animal, vegetable and mineral realms; and science, language, and their proliferation through technological means.

In the course of her expansive career, Rai has participated in multiple national and international shows including Nature Morte, New Delhi (2021, 2017, 2014, 2010, 2004); Gallery Maya, London (2006); Gallery F.I.A., Amsterdam (1997, 1993); Gallery Espace, New Delhi (1992); Gallery Augustine, Hofheim (1991); Sakshi Gallery, Madras (1991); Gallery Aurobindo, New Delhi (1988); Triveni Gallery, New Delhi (1984, 1974); Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi (1980, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974) and Gallery Chemould, Mumbai (1979). She has also shown at Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, (2001-2002); BK Kunstforum, Dusseldorf (2001-2002); Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, Cheltenham, UK (1995-1996); National Gallery of Modern Art (1986) and Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan (1984). Her work was featured in the 9th Norwegian International Print Triennial, Norway (1989); the Bharat Bhawan Biennial, India (1988); the 17th International Biennial of Graphic Art, Yugoslavia (1987) and the 15th Tokyo Biennale, Japan (1984).

Malini Thadani

Malini Thadani

With the acumen gained from two successful careers, the first in the Indian Revenue Service and the second at HSBC in India and Hong Kong, Malini serves as independent director on corporate and not for profit Boards, and advises organisations to design and operationalise the effective integration of ESG, sustainability into their strategic vision, to help future-proof them. Malini has been a Strategic advisor on Sustainability and ESG for Board level and Senior Business leaders.

As a Leader of high level stakeholder groups she has held positions on international and regional Boards for industry bodies and not-for-profits. She was a civil servant of the Indian Revenue Service, with 14 years’ experience in various Indian Government Ministries. She worked for 22 years at HSBC at first in India where she headed the financial services group’s Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability work. She moved to Hong Kong to lead the Bank’s Sustainability teams across 19 markets in Asia where HSBC had a presence, designing, developing and implementing large-scale, complex, cross-border sustainability projects in partnership with global and regional think-tanks, not-for-profits and academia, specialising in areas including sustainable finance, environmental resource security, livelihoods, employability and entrepreneurship.

Jigs Ashar

Jigs Ashar

Jigs Ashar is an award-winning author and banker-turned-consultant. His first short story, a thriller by the name of The Wait is Killing was adjudged a winner by none other than Jeffrey Archer in the Times of India - WriteIndia Season 2 contest. Encouraged by this, Jigs wrote his second short story in a completely different genre. Make(up) in India, a humorous take on today’s families, was adjudged a winner in the same season by Shobha De. His third short story, again a thriller titled Duel, was shortlisted for the Juggernaut Short Story Prize for the year 2018.

In a unique feat, Jigs debuted with two thriller novels that released on the same day in September 2020. The two crime thrillers - Insomnia and A Brutal Hand – have both done exceedingly well, and are currently being evaluated for a screen adaptation.

Jigs’ third novel, titled The Headless Victim, will be released in March 2023 by Rupa Publications, one of the largest publishing houses of India. His fourth novel, The Prime Minister Must Die, is an international political thriller, due for release in 2023.

You can follow him on: Twitter (@JigneshAshar1) and Instagram (@jigsashar).

Poornima Dayal

It is with delight that we end this year at Art Grooves with an online Art Literature Festival.

I am thankful to the esteemed jury for taking out their precious time in finalizing the results.

Appreciate all the artists who participated. Congratulations!

Wishing our patrons a very Happy New Year.
Thanks.
Poornima Dayal
Founder, Art Grooves.

Sandhya Jathar

Mask-Age

The painting is “mask-age” each circle is symbolic of the shape of mask and also represents globe the various phases emotions and events the people traversed across 2020 commencing with the first circle left side bottom Christmas/Chinese New Year where the contagion commenced... the faces is human to human transmission as well as connections lost due to social distancing and isolation... the yellow circle left top is health care depicted by cross and frontline workers across the globe... the buildings are people confined to work with lighted windows.

Depicting the ritual of Diya and candles people lighted in hope. The next circle is wifi symbol everything dependent on wifi world even now revolves around work to education to shopping the next is the ship it is drifting feeling of non ending emotions pandemic fatigue mental Fog... Buddha is mindfulness... the red yellow globe is laptops/web series that took over the lives... next globe is the birds and nature recuperating and healing the other circle the last one is ray of hope with rays being vaccines.

Comments by jury:

"Strong emotions depicted both in the painting and in her words. A reflection of the angst and the strange connectivity and the post pandemic world that has emerged."

"Sandhya has wonderfully captured the essence of what humanity has gone through in the last three years in one striking painting. It evokes a multitude of emotions of loss, hope, victory and also the major events we witnessed through these years."

Kamini Misra

Dementia

The idea behind the art work is depiction of progression of degeneration of human mind in the Alzheimer 's disease (Dementia) and the perspective of the person who is affected by it.

Artist was inspired after caring for a very close family member for 8 years, who was affected by this cruel disease and artist witnessed the plight, and experienced the frustration, helplessness, and suffering of the loved one.

In this artwork, the written words are representing memory. Infestation of termite depicts the progression of disease and how memory is gradually being wiped out in various stages leaving a blank space in last figure. But the person affected is unaware of his/her situation and sees himself as complete self in the mirror image.

Comments by jury:

"Strong, powerful imagery and words that go with it, so clearly describing the internal view of self, that remains unchanged, even as the view from the outside in, is able to observe a deteriorating mind."

"The gradual ‘loss’ of a loved one is beautifully depicted in this poignant work of art. It is a devastating thought that someday one may not remember their most loved people, like one’s own child or spouse. Heartbreaking!"

Rritu Goel

Compulsion

The artwork which I have created emerged from an idea, when my son mixed Mahabharata and Ramayana together, it was then that I was inspired to read about our epics and heritage from a new and different perspective. At times the art may depict serenity, which tends to go towards a higher realm of spirituality, at other times, there is intense meaning behind the painting, conveying all sorts of emotions. The Artwork depicts Kunti’s dilemma and helplessness.

In the true tradition of an artist, I have put forth a new and bold prismatic shift in the century’s old epic, the Mahabharata. I have used a unique art style to reinterpret the characters in order to draw the audience into the multiple layers of the human persona. My artwork is a seamless fusion of centuries old traditions and the contemporary styles of interpretations. My art attempts to join the joy of abandon with colour to create bold, bright, daring paintings. The construction of the artwork 'Compulsion' reflects a search for truth and sensibility of spirituality. The artwork may evoke a sense of a relentless pursuit of truth.

Kunti led a life compelled by the invisible path of righteousness (Dharma). Bowing to societal rules led her to abandon her first love child, who she could not openly embrace as hers even when he appeared as Karna. In the painting, I have tried to reveal Kunti's melancholy despite being the mother figure of the Pandavas.

Comments by jury:

"An interesting perspective on Kunti’s motivations, well described in both the painting and words."

"It comes out as much more than a painting – it succeeds in telling a story. Love, abandonment, helplessness, the child’s innocence as he does not know what’s going to happen in the next moment and the turmoil in Kunti’s mind depicted by the raging sea."

Kamini Misra

Dementia

Sapna Anand

Separation

This works is an installation made of found objects. It is titled “Separation” where as an artist I dwell upon the part of me that I would like to shed/separate from myself. A part that is unseen and hidden but it defines my present, of who I am. The following lines were written as a part of the work. The poem is mu submission for the Art Literature Festival.

I want to shed you
But you are what makes ME
You threaten My existence
You are My existence
What Happens if I shed you
Does that change me, cleanse me or Purify me
Will I be saner or insane
Rational or emotional
If the conflict is ’To be or not to be’
I am conflicted
I want to be or not or ‘Just me'

Comments by jury:

"As the artist puts it herself, this is a very conflicted piece. And for her candour, she should be recognised."

The Retribution by Abhishek Nayak


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A Touch of Love by Ambikaa Vij


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Shakti - Strength of a woman by Anjum Shah


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Hope by Aparnaa Laxmi


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Im the Womaniaaaa by Kumar Aamlendu Pathak


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Entree by Nupur Patel


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Unbridled II by Payal Sarvaiya


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Be A Nature Lover by Pranab Kumar Saha


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by Rakshita Tantry


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Nurturing the relation by Sabiha Hasan Sumbul


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by SoHa Dalwai


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Eye- Mirror of the Soul by Vasudha Arora


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