Madhvi Parekh

Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Manu Parekh studied at Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay. Considered one of the most influential contemporary artists or the 20th/21st century, Parekh is part of a celebrated group of artists based in Delhi. Perhaps best known for his Banaras series, Parekh’s works are characterised by his intuitive use of colour, bold brushstrokes, and prominent lines. He has experimented with colourful abstractions, sexual imagery, and figuration, responding as much to nature as to daily life and social issues. The women in his works are represented as nature spirits, plant forms, germinating seeds and allegorical figures, recalling mythological traditions. As with many of his contemporaries, artists such as K G Subramanyan and Jyoti Bhatt, Craft has been a long-term interest and association with the Weavers’ Service Centre as a consultant designer gave him the opportunity to work with craftspeople from diverse regions of India. Parekh received the President of India’s silver plaque and the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society’s award in 1972 and the national award of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 1982. In 1992, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. His retrospective show at National Gallery of Modern Art also travelled to Mumbai and Bengaluru. He lives and works in New Delhi along with his artist wife, Madhvi Parekh.