Artists Directory >Asma Menon

I am an Indian born in the South of India; at the urban city of Chennai formerly know as Madras. My great grandfather hailed from Gujarat {a state I have visited in transit for a few hours}. He in turn hailed from the Sayani's, the people said to have come from Mount Sinai. We practice Islam and the sect is known as KHOJAS/AGAKHANIS/ISMALIS.
Being born an Indian, one is first and foremost culturally and emotionally very Indian.

Religion is personal, and not a badge to be worn on ones sleeve. I also have married outside the community to a Hindu; in what is know in India as a "LOVE MARRIAGE". This is no way has deterred my personal beliefs, as a matter of fact it has made me a more holistic Indian.

I am also very fortunate to have parents who recognized that I had a talent. The talent to draw and create pictures, which was nurtured from a very young age. I grew up very clear in my mind that I was destined to be an artist. The path took many directions and at crossroads one made ones move, all journeys were was not always about art but definitely the gathering of knowledge of many hues and colours.

In India we are close to nature and natures moods.
In Tamilnadu the state from which I hail, I see every morning {early} the simple geometric decoration on the outside of ones home, called "kolam", done in rice flour, by the woman of the house. This is a ritual, done every morning after the yard is swept and watered. The rice flour also serves to feed the birds like crows /sparrows and mynahs. Here is an instant integration of art and life. Being an early riser I watch the women of my street create these designs and then one hears the early morning morning "SUPRABATHAM ' or morning prayer from a temple nearby and the "AZZA", all these sights and sounds fuse to make up my own morning ritual. And all this in the heart of an urban city.

I feel that we are so much closer to nature, for the simple reason that we as Indians have not lost our ancient practices, which many other nations lost to new religious practices. Ancient cultures prayed to natures bounties, we are also loosing this but it not to the degree that the west has lost. Old cultures were destroyed /annihilated by the west when they plundered other "less nations". The fear of the unknown was termed as uncivilized/ barbarians/uncouth etc.

India is too large a nation, and the strength of our unshakable beliefs have not made this happen, despite the numerous wars from Alexander the great, to Babur the British and on to today's war on terrorism.

We are born with duties, duties to our elders, our parents and our families and so on and so forth. This strong sense of duty and patience and tolerance has seen us as a nation survive and rise above the issues and will keep us going. History has proved this over and over again.

Bio-Data

1961  -  Born in Chennai
1983  -  BSC Visual Communication Govt. College Arts & Crafts, Chennai
2001  -  M.A. Fine Arts, Govt. College Arts & Crafts, Chennai

Solo Exhibitions

2004	“Sayani”-Kalakriti- Hyderabad.
2003	“Sayani”- Pitanga Culture Centre- Auroville- Pondicherry. * ‘Sayani”- Launch pad- Chennai.
2001	The Living Wall-British Council – Chennai.
2000	Genesis Art Foundation – Chennai.
1999	Prithvi Art Gallery – Mumbai.
1998	Goethe Institute - Max Muller Bhavan – Chennai.
1997	The Easel – Chennai.
1996	The Easel – Chennai.
1995	R&B Café Gallery – Bangalore.
1994	Max Muller Bhavan – Chennai.
1980	Lalit Kala Akademi – Chennai.

International Exhibitions

2006	1001 RUPIE “Asma Menon & Davide Grazioli” – NT Art Gallery, Bologna, Italy South Excite – Artists from Tamilnadu – The Noble Sage Art Gallery, London, UK. Group Show - Art Fair at Malaysia – Curated by Art World, Chennai
2005	International Biennial of Mini –Prints- Barcelona- Spain
2004	International Biennial of Prints-Bharat Bhavan- Bhopal- India
2002	Auction of works for Afghan refugees- SAVAC, [SOUTH ASIAN VISUAL ARTS} –Toronto-Canada. * 10th Asian Art Bienniel-Bangaladesh Shipala Academy-Dhaka Group. * Exhibition of Indian Art at Austin - Texas, curated by Gallery Sumukha – Bangalore.
2001	International Print Triennial-Kanagawa-Japan. *international graphic triennial Bitola.
2000	International Biennial of Prints- Republic of Macedonia.
1999	International Triennial of Prints – Egypt.
1998	Mini Prints - Tokyo – Japan. *Solo Show – 1998- Gallery Mount Castle - Colombo - Sri Lanka.
1997	International Biennial Of Prints Bharath Bhavan, Bhopal. *Mini Triennale Of Prints, Poland.
1995	International Biennial of Prints, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal *The 85th Independent International Exhibition of Prints, Kanagawa, Japan.

Group Exhibitions In INDIA

2006	Women Print Makers – Curated by Kavita Shah of CHAAP, Vadodara (Baroda) at Chemold Art Gallery, Mumbai & Colab Art Gallery, Banglore All India Group Show – Curated by Koeli Mukherjee for Nagarjuna Group, Hyderabad Anniversary Show – Gallery Sara Arakal, Banglore
2005	Anniversary Show – Gallery Sumukha, Banglore Women @art – The Forum Art Gallery- Chennai. * Essence- Group show of Chennai Artist- Ashvita Art Gallery- Chennai * Quatro -4 Artists of Chennai- Art World- Chennai.
2004	Contemplations- Women Artist of India – Gallery Sara Arakal, Bangalore and Habitat Centre, New Delhi* Feminine Eye- Gallery Sara Arakal, Bangalore.
2003	Chennai Artists-Forum Art Gallery-Chennai. *Inaugural Art Show –Gallery Sara Arakal-Bangalore. * Anniversary Art show- Art World- Chennai.
2002	Of Birds, God’s and Goddesses - Lakshana Hyderabad. *Annual show of the Cholamandal Artist Village as an Invitee- Chennai. *Save the child -curated by Gallery Beyond-Mumbai. *Affordable Art - Vinyasa. Art Gallery – Chennai. *Of Gods Goddesses and Birds - Lakshana art gallery – Hyderadad.
2001	Affordable Art Show-Vinyasa Art Gallery-Chennai. *3Women artists-Cymroza Art Gallery-Mumbai. *International Women’s Day- Olga Okuneva and Asma Menon-Russian cultural center-Chennai. *Works On Paper-Art Resource Trust- Mumbai. *Regional Art exhibition-Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi-Cochin. *Ceramics and Works on Paper- Art World- Chennai. *3women Artists-Triveni Art Gallery-New Delhi.
2000	The Adyar Art Club, Chennai *Working Artists, Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai
1999	Art in Spring, Cymroza Art Gallery – Mumbai. *Masters in Fine Arts, Lalit Kala Akademi – Chennai. *Jehangir Art Gallery-Mumbai. *One Evening Show, Max Mueller Bhavan – Chennai. *Millennium Show of Artists around the Country-Vinyasa Art Gallery-Chennai.
1998	State Department for The Visual Arts, Chennai. *3 Women Artists of Chennai - Art World – Chennai. *National Exhibition-New Delhi * Southern Stars- Art World – Chennai.
1997	All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, Chennai. *Regional Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai. *All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, National Show -New Delhi. *50 Years Of Indian independence- Mumbai. *Exhibition On Human Form and Art – Chennai. *The Times of India, Cochin - Kerala.
1996	Cymroza Art Gallery, Bombay *The Regional Exhibition - Lalit Kala Akademi – Chennai. *The Sixth Biennial Of Art - Bharat Bhavan – Bhopal. *The Values Art Foundation - Chennai - Lalit Kala Akademi - Chennai.
1995	State Department for the Visual Arts Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai * The Gallery- Chennai.

 

Participations

2005	Poster and invitation design - collection of short plays - for Mithran Devanasan- Chennai.
2004	Peoples Union for Civil Liberties [PUCL] and Act Now for Harmony and Democracy- multi cultural show- select artists painted at the venue –Chennai. *The cross is risen- exhibition/sale for Anjar project for rehabilitation of children of Gujarat- Chennai.
2002	Vasantham - auction of raising funds for mentally challenged children for medical and housing aid - Amythyst, Chennai.
2001	The Times of India Relief Fund in aid of the Gujarat quake victims *Indira Gandhi National Center of Arts- Visual Tributes to B.C.Sanyal on the occasion of his 100th birthday-New Delhi *Rotary club of Pondicherry in association with Art World Chennai- “ART BEAT”- Selected artists from around India were invited to paint and promote understanding of Art and Culture *Children’s workshop by Asma Menon for the underprivileged children – Bal Bhavan- Pondicherry *Kala Mela- Lalit Kala Akademi – Chennai.
1999	Christies Auction for W.I.S.E. Women Artists of India – Mumbai *Paintings based on “Kurals of the Tamil Poet Thiru Valluvar (133 Artists of Chennai were commissioned by the State Govt. to depict the “Kurals” visually)
1997	Bangalore Police Auction of Art to Raise Funds for Housing *Lakhereen Art Gallery - Slide Show of 50 years of Contemporary Art in India, in commemoration of 50 years of Indian Independence *Kala Mela (Art Festival), Delhi.
1996	Kala Mela (Art Festival), Calcutta.
1995	Kala Mela (Art Festival), Bangalore.
1994	Kala Mela (Art Festival), Delhi.

Art Camps

2006	Kolkata & Tamilnadu Artists at Art World, Pondicherry Women Artists from India, Pakistan & Bangladesh for raising funds towards upliftment of the economically challenged women of Dharavi slums, Mumbai – Curated by Shubha Maudgal, Mumbai of Cancer People’s Association, Mumbai
2005	National Art Festival- Lalit Kala Akademi New Delhi with Sahitya Akademi- Gangtok- Sikkim- Venue- Sikkim{Painters/sculptors }* Club Sante Pondicherry and Art World Chennai- venue- Pondicherry. {For tsunami victims}
2003	A two days camp of selected Chennai based artists to demonstrate and interact with the Fine Arts students of Stella Maris College – Chennai. *One by 15 – Ashvita – Chennai.
2002	Inaugural functions for Sante – Pondicherry -  selected artists from around India were invited to paint and promote understanding of Art and Culture.
2001	Rotary Club of Pondicherry in association with Art World Chennai – “ART BEAT” – Selected artists from around India were invited to paint and promote understanding of Art and Culture.

Commissions

2006	Mother & Child – Mural Project for Tamilnadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC). Installed on the upcoming IT Highway Corridor, Chennai Tree Of Life – Mural – Patio of a private residence, Chennai Printmaking of 40 editions of two plates for the distributors of Somerset Papers in India Design consultant for Indiaclem Centre for Disease Control, Chennai – AIDS & Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases booklet/manual/power point presentation for field staff
2005	Collaborative paintings with Iain Harrison, artist from Australia for the NGO Saathii at Chennai for the New Wing at the Kilpauk Medical College for HIV / AIDS, Chennai.
2003	Mural as part of back drop for Little Theatre- ROBIN HOOD – Pantomime- Chennai.
2002	Set backdrop for Pritham Chakravathy solo performance on the “hijidas”, for the Edinburgh Festival - U.K. *Illustrations for the literarary special issue of the vernacular {Tamil / Malayalam} issue of India Today. *Cover Design and Illustrations for a collection of poems by Tamil Women Poets.
2000	Design and Execute Set for Anita Ratnam’s Extradition (Contemporary Indian Dance Sequence), Alliance Françoise, and Chennai*Collection of 20 works for Sulzer India – Chennai.
1998	Design Serigraph for Anita Ratnam’s, The Other Festival, Chennai.
1997	Etchings & Paintings for Citibank, Chennai. *Etchings and Paintings for Times of India Pondicherry and Coimbatore.
1996	Paintings & Drawings for The Response Office of Times of India, Chennai.
1995	Drawings of Victorian Buildings of Chennai for Nidhi Reddy Consultants, Chennai.

Workshops/Education

2006	Therapy through Exploration of Art – Club Mahindra Resorts India, Chennai Childrens’ Workshop for Exploration of Colour, Space, Collage & Storytelling by using advertisement lines to build up a skit – Hues Art Gallery, Chennai
2005	Corporate Self-awareness training through Art and Craft- Club Mahindra Resorts India- Chennai. * Exploration of colour and space – Stella Maris College, Chennai. * Children’s Workshop – Good books, Chennai.                 * History of Costumes and Temple Architecture - National School of Design, Chennai.
2004	Substitute Art Teacher for the last quarter at the American International School Chennai for the elementary school level. Also been subbing since 2003 at AISC *The Painted Canopy for young designers-12 to 15years - British Council- Chennai in conjuncture with their Global/Local fashion exhibition at the Forum Art Gallery –Chennai.
2003	Poster workshop on AIDS prevention - for the Transsexuals of Chennai- Aravani Empowerment Solutions- Aids Prevention and Control Project and Dorcas Research Centre- Chennai {on world AIDS DAY}
2002	Rotary Club Pondicherry “Art Beat” Children’s workshop* First Year post graduate students of fine arts- Stella Maris College- Chennai. Workshop on creative expression, which leads to an installation of boxes depicting each student’s ethos of work *Potter Around – Children’s workshop on collage *Genesis Art Foundation and Asma Menon- Childrens workshop on Art, Craft and Theatre *Club Mahindra - Children’s workshop - Munnar, Karala.
2000	Collage, Colour and Storytelling, Genesis Art Foundation, Chennai * Lecture of World Art Improvisation Exercises for the Doctors & Technicians of Jeevan Blood Bank and Lister Laboratories *Workshop for children-Gallery Sumukha-Bangalore *Workshop for Children - BOW - WOW club – Chennai *Slide show  and lectue on Southern Art Trends - Apparao Galleries – Chennai.
1999	Exploring of Colour & Space through Storytelling, British Council, Chennai *Lecture Demonstration for cable (Jaya TV) on the etching process.
1997	Conducted Children’s “Paint The Wall” workshop at Max Muller Bhavan, Chennai.

Awards

2006	Best Citizens’ Award – Best Citizen Publishing House – New Delhi.   Senior Fellowship – Ministry of Tourism & Culture, New Delhi.
2005	Vijay Rattan Award for contribution as an Artist to society – India International Friendship Society, New Delhi.
2002	Women Acheivers Awards, National Publicity Project. Winner for the category of Visual Arts, Ladies Circle India, Chennai.
2001	State Award For Print Making - Senior Category.
1997	All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society Award of Golden Jubilee of India’s Independence - State Level, Chennai.

Address:
J35A, 1st Floor, 7th Street, Anna Nagar (East) Chennai - 600 102
Email: asmamenon@hotmail.com.
PH: +91-44-42071833 MOBILE: +91-98401-71833
website : www.asmamenon.com