© 2017 Drishti Chawla

Artist Biography - DRISHTI CHAWLA

Born in 1984, Drishti Chawla is an artist from Mumbai and now living in Nairobi.

The youngest of three siblings, her family and husband who is a developer, are a major support system encouraging her to achieve her goals. Drishti has completed her studies in Commercial Art from Sophia Polytechnic (2005) with a major in photography and won several awards as part of her course. Having started her career in advertising working with Ogilvy & Mather & Ambience Publicis, she soon realized that her true calling lay in painting.

Her works have been displayed in solo and group exhibitions in India and overseas. Her solo art shows held in Mumbai were tremendously received by patrons and the Art community.

Positive press feedback and coverage in The Bombay Times and the DNA validated her exhibitions. In early 2010, her works were also part of the 9th Indian Paintings Exhibition held at the National Art Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta.

She was also part of “Advaita-V” a group show of upcoming artists in November 2011. In 2012 she was part of a group show, “Vibrant Hues” in the Jehangir terrace art gallery displaying her acrylic paintings. Drishti also had two solo shows at The D.D.Neroy Gallery in Mumbai in 2013 titled “Divine Chants” and “Divine Chants Transform”. She has been a part of the “Art Enclave” in the Index interior shows in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016.

In March 2015 she showcased her photographic skills at the Jehangir terrace art gallery in a show called “Indefinite Quest”. She was part of the World Art Fair Dubai in April 2016 as part of the Gallery, Art League India. She has also created Indian Folk Art paintings which were commissioned by the American School of Bombay. These paintings were inspired from the Madhubani & Warli styles and she interacted with the artisans to learn the intricacies and nuances of their works.

She showcased her works at the Polka Dot Art Gallery in Nairobi in June this year. Her latest collection is inspired from her move to Kenya and was well appreciated by art patrons and critics.

Through her career, she spent four years teaching Art and fostering young student’s creative talents and inspiring a new generation of artists.

Currently she is associated with Aura Art Gallery (Mumbai), Cobalt Art Gallery (Mumbai) and Okapi World Art Gallery (Dubai), Polka Dot Art Gallery (Nairobi).

Artist Statement

My influences are first and foremost everything I see, feel and experience. Art therefore is a synthesis of my personal feelings, the subject or colours that inspire me and my materials and techniques.

Vibrant hues and serenity are the foundation of my acrylic works. My paintings are a mix of figuratives and abstracts. Lord Buddha is a common feature in several works, as are lonely landscapes and flowy abstracts.

After my move to Nairobi, my recent works depict animals. Nairobi is a beautiful and green city surrounded by nature and wildlife.

My work is inspired by the natural world --- its beauty, paradoxes and contrasts. My relationship to nature is central to my creativity. And I see nature as both around us and deep within us. Rather than re-creating a landscape I aim to express its essence and spirit by adding my own interpretation.

Intuition and improvisation override the carefully planned shapes and lines which begin each painting. While nature plays a grand inspiration for my paintings, also critical to me is meditation and chanting. They give me stimulus for my work and help me channelise and express my thoughts. Before beginning each piece I meditate and chant which helps me focus. During the creation of each piece I am listening to prayers and chants as my motto is to spread positive vibes through all my works.

Many of my works have the Buddhist mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”. It is the most important Buddhist mantra and it encompasses the entire teachings of Buddha. It means that with the union of method and wisdom, one can transform one’s impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech and mind of Buddha. On the same note, I believe that if one chants with full faith and understanding, each one of us can transform every aspect of our lives.