springapril 2008

Five prominent Female artists From india, pakistan and south aFrica raising Funds For st John ambulance in the uk

LaLLitha JawahiriLaL

asma menon

GoGi saroJ PaL

rekha rao

mobina Zuberi

‘twisting (cotton khash)’ (2007) by rekha rao, oil and acylic on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Front cover: detail of ‘tree of life’ (2006) by asma menon, etching,19 x 20 inchesback cover: detail of ‘holy ganga, lovingly flows by’ (2007) by lallitha Jawahirilal, mixed media on paper, 29 x 22 inches

springFive prominent Female artists From india, pakistan and south aFrica raising Funds For st John ambulance in the uk

LaLLitha JawahiriLaL

asma menon

GoGi saroJ PaL

rekha rao

mobina Zuberi

‘nati binodini - 1’ (2007) by gogi saroj pal, gouache on paper, 22 x 29 inches

introduction...When artist asma menon, a champion of my gallery, approached me with the idea of holding a charity show, i wasn’t convinced immediately. i was mainly concerned whether funds could really be raised for the charity in question and whether also the artist and gallery could satisfy their direct and indirect costs. however, as asma listed the names of the artists involved i soon became enthralled. menon’s work visitors of the noble sage will know well. her glossary-like knowledge of world stories, myths, fairytales and legends is unparalleled and, likewise, her flamboyant painting style is uncompromising and immediately recognisable. it goes without saying that i am a huge fan of her work having included her in our first show, ‘chennai excite’ in april 2006, and again in our celebrated exhibition, ‘she india’ in september 2007. this time i am showing a different side of her oeuvre through a display of her complex dark etchings. rekha rao also has shown with us before in our popular ‘in the Fore’ 2007 exhibition. it was a joy to work with her again and to feel the sensations of her colour leap off each canvas once more. lallitha Jawahirilal was a name known to me (and undoubtedly to many in london) as she spent many years studying at the royal college of art and having exhibitions in the capital thereafter. her naïve, childlike style together with her bright palette makes her an enduring artist for all viewers, one enjoyed the world-over: from her homeland south africa through to india and beyond. mobina Zuberi was intriguing because of her work in textiles and handmade paper. i have not shown a fabric work to my clientele and her expertise seemed a perfect place to start. most of all, it was the name gogi saroj pal that drew me to the show. a renowned delhi maestro, i simply couldn’t wait to show this senior artist’s work on my gallery wall. her work had always held me in their poetic and beautiful resonance, her female figures constantly embodied with profundity above sheer aesthetic beauty. Faced with such artistic talent, i knew the show would be a great success, amazing audiences with its colour and imagination.

the group’s aim was to tour a show to several different venues in asia, ending the tour with a finale exhibition at the noble sage in london. the idea was that wherever the show went a proportion of the proceeds would be given to a charity that would benefit the people of that location - a characteristically benevolent gesture by these artists. it was a very easy sell to invite st John ambulance to be the sponsor and charity benefactor for this uk show. it was enjoyable to see them as excited about the exhibition as i was. knowing now even more the vast remit of what this worthwhile charity does, it makes me even more proud to work with them on this project.

i would like to thank all the artists participating in the show for their hard work, tara and rosie at st John ambulance for their patience and goodwill, my skilful designer, poonum chauhan, and my dutiful assistant, cristina oliveira, who came up with such a great name for the exhibition. spring – the season that surrounds us today, a courageous step forward toward a new future, a rebirth, a re-awakening. if that word doesn’t sum up the ethos of the artist group and the optimistic content of this show, nothing will.

every now and again, fortune is on the side of the good gallerist. this was one of those moments. it is an absolute delight to welcome this talented group of female artists to the noble sage and to be part of their great charitable crusade.

Jana manuelpillaidirectorthe noble sage

LaLLitha JawahiriLaL (b. 1955), lives and works in puttaparthi, india

acquired a bachelor of arts, First class honours at the camberwell school of arts and crafts, london (1987) and a master degree in painting at the royal college of art, london (1989); studied Fine art and history of art at the university of durban-Westville, south africa (2000)

seLected soLo exhibitions

2002 greatmore studios, cape town2001 monash university Faculty gallery, australia1999 curwen gallery, london1996 new academy gallery, london1994 new academy gallery, london1991 galerie trapez, berlin1990 gallery 21, Johannesburg1990 198 gallery, london1985 africa centre, stockholm

seLected GrouP exhibitions

2007 ‘confluence’, kalakriti art gallery, hyderabad2007 16th anniversary art salon, bangalore2006 ‘art camp’, renaissance art centre, mumbai2005 river arts & music Festival, ladysmith, south africa2004 ‘decade of democracy’, south african national gallery, cape town2003 ‘Journeys’, ernest g. Welsh school of art and design, atlanta2001 ‘Jabulisa, the art of kwaZulu natal’, durban art gallery, south africa 2000 african art centre, durban, south africa1999 nico malan theatre, cape town1998 ‘kunst aus suda afrika’, gallerie sieppel, stuttgart, germany1998 newcastle museum, united kingdom1997 trienalle, lalit kala academy, new delhi 1996 ‘conjures’, First gallery, Johannesburg1991 ‘discerning eye’, the mall galleries, london1991 barcelona international biennale, spain1990 contemporary art society, art market, smith gallery, london1990 ‘broadgate’, Whitechapel art gallery, london1989 ‘art london/89’, london1987-8 third international bienniale print exhibition, taipei Fine arts museum, taiwan

seLected awards

1994 elizabeth Foundation award, united states of america1992 pollock krasner award, united states of america 1991 discerning eye award, mall galleries, london1989-90 african education trust award, london

lallitha

‘this beautiful light fills my world’ (2007) by lallitha Jawahirilal, mixed media on paper, 29 x 22 inches

asmaasma menon (b. 1961), lives and works in chennai

acquired a bsc in visual communication (1983) and a masters degree in Fine arts (2001) at the government college of arts & crafts, chennai

seLected soLo exhibitions

2004 ‘sayani’, kalakriti, hyderabad2003 ‘sayani’, pitanga culture centre, pondicherry2001 ‘the living Wall’ exhibition, british council, chennai2000 genesis art Foundation, chennai1999 prithvi art gallery, mumbai1998 goethe institute, max muller bhavan, chennai1998 gallery mount castle, colombo, sri lanka1996-7 the easel, chennai1995 r&b café gallery, bangalore

seLected GrouP exhibitions

2007-8 galerie l’etang d’art, bages, France2007 Farley Yard trust, east sussex, united kingdom 2007 ‘she india’, the noble sage, london2006 ‘chennai excite’, the noble sage, london2006 ‘1001 rupie’, two-person show, nt art gallery, bologna, italy2005 ‘essence – a group show of chennai artists’, ashvita art gallery, chennai2005 ‘Quattro – Four artists of chennai’, artworld, chennai 2005 international biennale of mini-prints, barcelona, spain2005 Women@art, the Forum art gallery, chennai 2004 ‘contemplations – Women artists of india’, gallery sara arakal, bangalore and

habitat centre, new delhi2004 Feminine eye exhibition, gallery sara arakal, bangalore2003 anniversary art show, art World, chennai2003 inaugural art exhibition, gallery sara arakal, bangalore 2002 ‘exhibition of indian art’, organized by gallery sumukha, texas, usa2002 ‘of birds, gods and goddesses’, lakshana art gallery, hyderabad2001-2 affordable art exhibition, vinayasa art gallery, chennai2001 regional art exhibition, lalit kala akademi, kerala2001 ‘ceramics and Works on paper’, art World, chennai 2001 international print triennale, kanagawa, Japan1999 international triennale of prints, egypt1999 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1998 ‘southern stars’ exhibition, art World, chennai1997 mini-triennale of prints, poland1995 the 85th independent international exhibition of prints, Japan

seLected awards

2005 vijay rattan national award for artist contribution to society2001 Winner of visual arts category, Women achievers awards, chennai

‘celebration’ (2006) by asma menon, etching, 20 x 23 inches

gogiGoGi saroJ PaL (b.1945), lives and works in new delhi

studied at college of art, banasthali, rajastan (1961-2); acquired a diploma in Fine art from the gcac, lucknow (1967); postgraduate diploma in Fine art at the college of art, new delhi acquired (1969); lecturer at Women’s polytechnic, college of art and Jamia millia university in new delhi intermittently (1970-83)

seLected soLo exhibitions

2004 dhoomimal art centre, new delhi1996 ‘icons of Womanhood’, arks gallery, london1995 recent paintings and installations, art today, new delhi1992 ‘kinnari’, alliance Francaise, new delhi 1990 Watercolour paintings, artist studio gallery, new delhi 1990 cymroza art gallery, bombay 1989 ‘eternal bird’, artist studio gallery, new delhi 1988 gallery rohtas, rawalpindi, pakistan 1987 gallery aurobindo, new delhi 1986 graphic print, montreal1982 sarala’s art gallery, madras 1982 ceramics & graphic prints, Jehangir art gallery, bombay 1979 & 1981 art heritage, new delhi1975 black partridge art gallery, new delhi1969 delhi silpi chakra, new delhi

seLected GrouP exhibitions

2008 ‘celebrating sara’, sumukha art gallery, chennai2007 ‘tiger by the tail’, kniznick gallery, rose art museum, massachusetts2007 ‘eminent artists of india’, activity center, gaithersburg, usa1998 ‘unmasking’, om gallery, new delhi1997 ‘50 years of indian independence’, vadhera art gallery at the

national gallery of modern art, new delhi 1993 ‘Wounds’, national gallery of modern art, new delhi1992 ‘the expressive line’, art age presentation, calcutta1991 ‘installations’, germany and united kingdom1984 ‘contemporary printmaking in india’, Jehangir art gallery, bombay1982 bedford print biennale, united kingdom1981 & 1983 14th & 15th print biennale, lubjiyana 1980 third World print biennale, london and baghdad

seLected awards

1995 12th cleveland international drawing biennale, middlesborough1990 national award, lalit kala akademi, new delhi1986-8 Junior Fellowship (plastic art), department of culture, new delhi

‘nati binodini - 2 ’ (2007) by gogi saroj pal, gouache on paper, 22 x 30 inches

rekha

rekha rao (b. 1947), lives and works in bangalore

studied painting under artist father k.k. hebbar

seLected soLo exhibitions

2006 sumukha gallery, bangalore2006 cymroza gallery, mumbai2006 Forum art gallery, chennai 2005 vinyasa art gallery, bangalore, mumbai and delhi 2003 cymroza art gallery, mumbai 2001 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai 2000 renaissance gallery, bangalore 2000 san tache art gallery, mumbai1996 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1995 cymroza art gallery, mumbai1993 dhoomimal gallery, new delhi 1992 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1991 sakshi art gallery, chennai and bangalore 1988 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1987 sakshi art gallery, chennai and bangalore1985 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1985 gallery unverzagt, germany1985 gallery k, geneva, bonn, new delhi1983 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai1981 dhoomimal gallery, new delhi 1976 gallery surya, germany 1972 serisawa gallery, los angeles 1969 Jehangir art gallery, mumbai

seLected GrouP exhibitions

2008 ‘modern & contemporary indian paintings’, bid & hammer auctioneers, bangalore

2004 gallery sumukha art Fair, hong kong 2001-2 concern india auction 1999 Wise christie’s auction, mumbai 1998 ‘Windows’, nab sotheby’s auction, london1995 art for ‘save the children’, sotheby’s auction, mumbai 1995 art for ‘crY’, Jehangir art gallery, new delhi 1991 ‘8 contemporary artists – JoY & despair’, Joshua gallery, singapore 1978 iv triennale india, lalit kala akademi, new delhi

seLected awards

1978 maharashtra state award 1977 lalit kala akademi award

‘hand ginning’ (2007) by rekha rao, oil and acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

mobinamobina Zuberi (b. 1945), lives and works in islamabad, pakistan

attained a bachelor of art at st. Joseph college, karachi, pakistan (1965); courses in painting and drawing at the art student league, new York (1967); curator and Founding member of the art gallery (1992-2003) and khaas art gallery (2004), islamabad

seLected soLo exhibitions

2007 ‘spaces’, indus gallery, karachi 2007 ‘spaces’, khaas gallery, islamabad2006 ‘the Wait – intizar’, indigo art gallery, mumbai2005 ‘the Wait – intizar’, chawkandi art gallery, karachi2002 ‘eternal eve 1’, Zenaini gallery, karachi1997 ‘umbilical cord series’, chawkandi art gallery, islamabad1989 ‘seasonal Women’, chawkandi art gallery, karachi1987 ‘our Women’, interior art gallery, islamabad, pakistan1985 ‘let me be’, rohitas gallery, islamabad, pakistan1983 ‘of days gone by’, indus gallery, karachi, pakistan

seLected GrouP exhibitions

2007 ‘confluence’, kalakriti gallery, hyderabad2004 national exhibition, alhamra art gallery, lahore2003 ‘eternal eve 2’, croweaters gallery, lahore2001 54th independence day exhibition, american center, islamabad1997 golden Jubilee celebrations, usis & art council, karachi1995 ‘Women in creation’, alliance Francaise, islamabad1994 national art gallery, islamabad1992 national art gallery, islamabad1990 ‘through a Woman’s eye’, national art gallery, islamabad1987 elios gallery, islamabad1983 hilton hotel gallery, abu dhabi1982 shri daharni gallery, new delhi

‘untitled’ (2007) by mobina Zuberi, mixed media on handmade nepalese paper, 29 x 19 inches

the noble sage art gallery is the first gallery in the united kingdom to specialise in indian contemporary art.

situated in north london, minutes from highgate, hampstead and muswell hill, the noble sage boasts 200 metres square of elegant art gallery space solely dedicated to the display and propulsion of south asian contemporary art in the european art scene.

the noble sage was initiated in april 2006 by its director, Jana manuelpillai ma. holding more than ten years experience in art galleries and museums such as the dulwich picture gallery, the massachusetts museum of contemporary art and the world-famous mall galleries off london’s trafalgar square, together with academic qualifications in history of art and museology, Jana is already a formidable player in the south asian art scene.

oPeninG times

mondays & tuesdays by appointment onlyWednesday to Friday 11 – 7.30pmsaturday & sunday 11 – 5pm

Jana manuelpillaidirector

design & artwork by poonum chauhan t: 07709 173310 e: poonum@cherrybombfizz.co.uk

st John ambulance is about real people doing real things through the dedication and professionalism of our volunteers and staff. as the nation’s leading first aid charity you probably know us for our ambulance and volunteers at local and major events. You may also know us for our first aid training, but in fact we do much much more.

What you may not know is that in the uk alone, over 50,000 volunteers give in excess of 5 million hours of their time every year in order to save, treat and care for others. very much the unsung heroes. We assist the nations ambulance service and support the emergency services in times of crisis or national disaster, such as the ‘7/7’ bombings and the royal marsden fire. We provide first aid cover to the local community through our ‘community First responders’, who give life saving assistance to patients until the ambulance arrives. We offer care for the elderly and homeless and not least forgetting our major youth programme, which builds character and respect for so many young people. the list goes on.

we do what it says on the tin – we empower our volunteers and the general public to save lives! but all of these vital services require voluntary funding support.

st John ambulance, 27 st John’s lane, london ec1m 4bu t: 020 7324 4171 F: 020 7324 4001

registered charity number 1077265/1a proportion of proceeds from this exhibition will go to st John ambulance

the noble sage2a For tis greenlondon n29elunited kingdom

reception@thenoblesage.comtel: 020 8883 7303www.thenoblesage.com

cat:0009