Original Paintings

Manisha Raju

Artist Manisha Raju

Joined Craft Tatva: February 2022

A quest for the metaphysical aspect of the person” may just about describe the body of her works. In her works, you will find a preoccupation with the philosophical, much like her own belief system. She draws hugely from Indian mythology and then defies limits to take her characters to a realm of their own.

Focus Areas: Figures, Woman, etc.

Artworks by Manisha Raju

About Manisha Raju

Human beings are a part of the whole universe, limited in time and space. We experience thoughts, our feelings and ourselves as something separate from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. At that point the thin line between individual existence & whole universe gets resolved. This resolution has been interpreted in varied ways and then the confrontation comes into existence, with the self.

My lyricism is also a way of confrontation, search for self. Search for metaphysical existence which exists beyond physical. My narration converses many subjects and its relation with contemporary happening. My expression process is through figuration with well-defined forms, matrix of subtle tonal variation and minimalist contributing elements. Each developing form on the confined surface offers me relative space, where actual form & empty space around negotiate relatively and add meaning to the space. With passing time all that exists around tends to change. Time shapes & reshapes the spatial metaphor. This change is not only outward but inward too… Time alters metaphysical perception in context with dynamic space. Time forms a new Existence with a new dimension in space. Lines & colors in interaction with space, on a surface, create arts. It’s an effort to make each & every line melodious & each stroke vocal. In my work there is a search for a nostalgic era , Indian Mythology. Mythology has a core source of values, culture, tradition, conceptual, ideology & aesthetics, which has a great impact on me. These impressions create existence & negotiate with my space. My lyricism is an expression of mythological forms. The existing energy within the form & its line rhythm is a real manifestation. With rhythm there is a deep silence along. That’s the emphasis to gaze at the works. This silence reflects on the viewer’s hearts. That is a great achievement of any art form. The core approach of my work deals with female existence, her power & its unlimited existence in every era. The way women carry herself metaphysically and her known unknown, noticed-unnoticed struggle, throughout her life. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. Indian mythology has had a great impact on me. It is my varied approach that provides me with a different perspective to look at the same things. Basic concept of my lyricism is self interaction, and closed eyes are the most distinctive feature of my work. It’s an interaction with the soul for at least a few moments to realize the origin and end of this physical body, and the existence of this endless, limitless, immortal spirit , which exists in every human body. I worked in acrylic, water and pastels as well, which offers me diverse scope to express myself. We nourish, beautify our physical body and in the same way enriching metaphysical existence and soul is the real achievement in life.

 

Personal

1969 Born on 13th Dec, at Nagpur, Maharashtra State, India
2003 B. Sc., M A, M B A, Ph.D. from Nagpur University, India
1998 came to Cholamandal

Membership
Member of PPA – Progressive Painters Association, Cholamandal Artist Village, Chennai National Jury
2019 I was invited for national jury by Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi

Solo Shows (India)
2021 Nostalgia by Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2017 kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad
2015 Swayamsiddha, A Gallery opening show for Ambrosia Art Gallery, Chennai
2011 Tathagata, Prakrit Arts Gallery, Chennai
2009 “Stuthi”, Prakrit Art Gallery Chennai
2008 ‘Re-Visited’, Sri Parvathy Arts Gallery, Chennai
2007 ‘Navagraha’ Prakrit Arts Gallery, Chennai.
2004 ‘Search for self’ Solo Show at CPR Art Gallery, Chennai
2006 ‘Nostalgia’ Kasthuri Shrinivasan Art Gallery, Coimbatore.
2004 ‘Search for self’ Solo Show at Ananya Art Gallery, Pondicherry Two Person Show ( India)
2011 Pratyaksha –Paroksha, at CISFA ki choti Gallery, Nagpur
2005 ‘Foot Steps of Time’, at Dakshinachitra Art Gallery, Chennai

Online Exhibition during Pandemic
2021 Un-Lock Series 17.1 (Solo Show) by Sarala Art Gallery, Chennai
2021 Quiescent II, (Group Show )
2021 Vishwam, by Vasant Rao Curation Project
2021 Dare to Dream, by Art Cube Gallery, Bagalore
2020 Panchali, by Vasant Rao Curation Project
2020 Nature (Group Show) , by Veda Art Gallery, Chennai
2020 Quiescent I, (Groups Show)

Group Shows ( India)
2020 Talking Spaces at Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2019 Identity & Experience at Forum Art Gallery , Chennai
2019 Gnani Art Gallery, Singapore presented by Forum Art Gallery Chennai
2018 Kadamba Show in Forum Art Gallery ,Chennai
2017 Artitude at Art Houz, Chennai
2017 Artitude at WestIn hotel, Chennai
2017 In house show at Forum art gallery Chennai
2017 In house show at Veda Art Gallery
2017 Fusion, Organized and curated by Dimples Art Gallery Chennai
2016 Show organized by Asian Art Gallery, US
2016 In house show organize by Veda Art gallery in Hayaat, Chennai
2016 Show organized by Vinyasa Art Gallery
2016 small format exhibition by Cholamandal
2016 Visible Visages organized by Veda Art Gallery, Chennai
2015 Plethora of Gods, at Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2015 Show organized by Spastics society of India, Art Houz Gallery Chennai
2015 Small format exhibition by Cholamandal
2015 Ganesha Show at Ambrosia Art Gallery, Chennai
2014 The ai-Smile, Women Artist’ show, charity gala at Hyaat , Chennai
2014 Sapthas , group show by Chennai women artists at KST Gallery, Coimbatore
2013 Women artists, exhibition at Vinyasa Art gallery, Chennai
2011 Kamalini show with artist at Prakrit Arts Gallery on the occasion of International women’s day.
2011 Panchatantra in participation with five artists at Laburnum & Indigo Galleries at Cholamandal Artists ’village Chennai.
2010 “Panchamukhi” group show by five Chennai woman artists at Vernissage Art Gallery, Cochin
2009 “Diverse Phrase” in participation with five artists at Kasthuri Srinivasan Arts Gallery, Coimbatore
2009 “Panchamukhi” group show by five Chennai woman artists at Kasthuri Srinivasan Arts Gallery, Coimbatore Shows in Participation( abroad)
2016 Show at Singapore by Art Houz gallery, Chennai
2011 Samay, organized by Prakrit Arts Gallery, Chennai at Neharu Arts center, London
2011 Lafz, organized by Krishala Arts Gallery, Bangalore
2011 Invite show at Malaysia by Lakshana Arts gallery
2010 Size – S, organized by Prakrit Arts and Krishala Art Gallery, at Neharu Arts Center London
2010 Madras Canvas, organized by Forum art gallery Chennai at Kula Lumpur

Shows in Participation ( India)
2018 Show organized by c4c for flood relief Kerala, Chennai
2017 Participation Show in Forum Art Gallery
2016 Participation show in Forum Art Gallery
2016 Participation show in Veda Art Gallery
2016 Participation show in Forum Art Gallery
2016 Participation show in Veda Art Gallery
2015 Shloka – organized and arranged by Lokaat Art Gallery, Nagpur, MS
2015 Progressive Painters Association Show at Laburnum and Indigo Art Galleries
2015 Eternal Enlightenment – show on Goutam Buddha at Ailamma Art Gallery, Hyderabad
2015 Padme – show on lotus at Forum Art gallery, Chennai
2015 Show on Ganesha at Ambrosia Art Gallery, Chennai
2015 Show by Concern India Foundation at ITC Chola
2015 Show by Spastics Society of India Show at Art Houz
2014 Progressive Painters Association Show at Forum Art gallery, Chennai
2014 Progressive Painters Association Show at Laburnum and Indigo Art Galleries
2014 Small format exhibition at Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai
2014 Art for Concern by Concern India Foundation, ITC Grand Chola, Chennai
2013 Small Format Annual Art Exhibition at Cholamandal Art Gallery, Chennai
2013 Resist – art exhibition at Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2013 Madras musing, Veda Art Gallery, Chennai
2013 Contemporary small format exhibition at Time & Space Gallery, Bangalore
2013 Group Show at Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2013 1 X 1 of Its kind, PPA Show at Forum Art Gallery
2012 Show organized by Anand Vikatan at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai
2011 Basant Panchami, by Prakrit Arts Gallery, Chennai
2011 PPA Cholamandal Exhibition, Cholamandal Art Gallery Chennai
2011 KCS Panikers celebration at part of Art Chennai at Cholamandal Art Gallery, Chennai
2010 Cholamandal Show at Cholamandal arts Gallery, Chennai
2010 Preview Show, lonavala Pune
2010 “Fusion” at Hotel Taj, Bangalore organized by Krishala Art, Bangalore
2010 Artist Handicraft Association, Cholamandal Art Gallery Chennai
2009 ‘Art fusion Show’ Neharu art Centre, Mumbai
2009 PPA Art Exhibition at Kasthuri Srinivasan Arts Gallery, Coimbatore
2009 PPA Art Exhibition, Laburnum & Indigo wing Cholamandal Art Gallery Chennai
2009 Serenity to Womanhood, by Forum Art Gallery, Chennai
2009 Madras Canvas in short, by Forum Art Gallery Chennai
2008 Chola Sherton, by FROZEN, social organization, Chennai.
2008 ‘Double take’ by Prakrit art gallery, chennai
2008 ‘Madras Canvas’ by Forum art Gallery, Chennai.
2008 Lalit Kala Academy by Pallava artist Village, Chennai
2008 Apparao Galleries Chennai and Delhi
2008 Affordable Art Show by Vinyasa art gallery, Chennai
2008 ‘Between the Lines’ an art shows organized by Art. Here. Now, at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
2007 ‘Southern Metaphor’ at Prakrit Arts Gallery, Chennai.
2005 ‘Affordable Art Show’ by Vinyasa Art Gallery at Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore.
2004 Concern India Foundation, Sunder Mahal Chennai
2004 Royal Academy “Ganesha Show”, Gulbarga, Karnataka.

National exhibition
2011 South Central Zone Cultural Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra Auction
2015 Spastics Society of India, Chennai
2010 Confluence, art Auction by Prakrit Arts Chennai
2008 ‘Gems 2008’ an auction organized by MSSI, Park Sherton, Chennai

Art Fair
2014 Art Chennai at Cholamandal Gallery, Cholamandal Artist Village, Chennai
2014 Art Mela organized by Sarala Art Center, Chennai at Cholamandal Artists’ Chennai
2012 Art Chennai , Cholamandal Gallery, Cholamandal Artists Village, Chennai
2008 ‘Kala Mela’ organized by Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai

Camp
2019 National camp by Lalit Kala Academi, at Wardha, MS
2017 Camp organized by Integral Coach Factory for museum at ICF Chennai
2012 Camp organized by Prakrit arts Gallery, Chennai at Bhedaghat, MP
Social contribution through Art
2019 Wall painting for beautification of Gandhi Sarovar Lake, Nagpur, MS
2018 lamp making workshop for tribal children in Gadchiroli, MS in association with Ambuja Cements
2017 Workshop For Tribal Children on Gond Art, on school walls , organized by Ambuja Foundation in Gadchiroli, MS
2015 Camp organized by me on the occasion of International women’s day under the banner of Prangan in Chennai, Participating Artists 10 from Chennai and Nagpur ;
2014 Work shop on wall-Painting for rural school students organized by Ambuja cement Chandrapur, Maharashtra

Open Studio
2020 Open Studio In and around Cholamandal Artist Village, Chemmai
2018 Open Studio at Cholamandal Artist Village, Chemmai

Lectures and Interaction
2015 Govt. College of Arts , Nagpur, MS
2017 Govt. College of Arts, Nagpur, Maharashtra Medium of Exploration
Water color, Pastels, Acrylic and Installations
There are many Collections of my works in India and Abroad.

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