CW0056

A brilliant colourist, Nayanaa Kanodia, an economist turned painter, is considered to be the pioneer of l’Art Naïf in India. She has held innumerable shows in India and abroad. Her paintings are in the collection of major art collectors and corporate houses all over the world. Musée d'Art Naïf Max Fourny - Halle Saint Pierre in Montmartre in Paris permanently displays her paintings. She exhibited and demonstrated her painting techniques in Victoria and Albert Museum in London and was chosen from all the artists of The Commonwealth Countries to have a solo show in then newly renovated complex in London. She has been featured in an international publication Women in Art by Reinhard Fuchs, a rare honour for an Indian artist. Impressed by the social messages conveyed in her paintings, a consortium of schools in Los Altos, USA uses her work as a medium of instruction to their students. She was also honoured with an award from Megh Mandal Sansthan, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in 2016. She is associated with many charitable societies, gives talks and conducts workshops and presentations on art in various organizations and universities. She is also a judge in art competitions. She has attended Art Camps in India, London, Sweden, Italy, Moscow, Greece, Thailand and Cambodia. Nayanaa’s work is characterised by the air of whimsy, flat bright polished surfaces and the extraordinary plethora of intricately worked shapes, details and patterns. She has portrayed India’s Society in Transformation as no artist has done before on such a huge time frame. Her works will serve as a record for the generations to come not only to their context. They also carry the most important yet universal social messages of our lives. Nayanaa says: “My paintings intend to make you feel that you are watching a snapshot of life at maximum preposterousness, exuberant and bursting with energy, idiosyncrasy and absurdity. The conversation I hope to create in my work is a certain truth of life and, on a deeper level, a well thought-out philosophy. Individuals may interpret my paintings in vastly disparate ways and each view will be equally logical and plausible, thought-provoking and intriguing.