Artists Directory >Sajitha R. Shankar
"Women, remorseful of their sacrifices, yearn to regain their erstwhile freedom. Men & women are equated as victors and victims of a vicious system that has been influencing the human psyche over a long period of time."
Sajitha Shankar was born in 1967 at Kumaranallor, Kerala. Graduated in painting from Govt. College of Arts, Trivandrum. Held eleven solo shows at Germany, U.K and India. Participated in 12th Cleveland International Drawing Biennala, UK (1996), 'Faces and Figures' Quay Side Gallery, U.K (1996), the project 'Nomads' (1997) and several shows in India. Attended many workshops and residencies in India and abroad. Recipient of Research grant for painting, L.K.A, New Delhi (1992 0 93), Charles Wallace Drawing Biennale, U.K (1996) and Kerala and Tamil Nadu State Awards (1994 & 1997).
A Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Govt College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum, the young artist has held Solo Exhibitions titled "WOMEN & REALITY" at Wexham, England; and in Uberhausen & Netzingen (1995) besides a few more in India. Her participation in various exhibitions of regional & national importance & in workshops in India & Germany have culminated in the Lalit Kala Akademi Research Grant, the Kalakriti Award, the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce Award, the Kerala State Award and also the Charles Wallace Trust Fellowship along with the Award from the Cleveland International Drawing Biennale, England.
Solo Exhibition
1999 - 'Searching from self' Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexam, U.K.
1998 - Katsuyama City Centre, Japan; Werkstatt WORT und BILD, Bochum, Germany; Freud Art Cafe Oxford UK
1997 - 'Three decades of search within' Die Galerie, Essen Germany
1996 - 'Beauty by Mistake', The Easel Art Gallery, Chennai; Artist of the Month, Max Mueller Bhavan, Chennai; Saras Albano Muller's Gallery, Schwelm, Germany.
1995 - 'Frauen und Wirklichkeit', Elsa Brandstrom Gymnasium, Oberhausen, Germany; Queen's Hall Art Centre, Hexam, Northemberland, UK; Women and Reality', Woodlands Gallery, Cochin, Kerala; Allilance Francaise de Chennai, organized by Sarala's Art Centre and Alliance Francaise.
1987 - College of Arts Gallery, Trivandrum, sponsored by Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala.
Group Shows
1999 - Four artists - at Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai; Three women artists - at Art World, Chennai.; Group Show of Madras Artists, Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai.
1998 - 'Begegnungen' - with German Artist Print-maker and Poet, Germany; "Alchemy show", The Apparao Gallery, Chennai. Nomad Project, International Exhibition, Durbar Hall, Cochin, Kerala; "Nudes", The Apparao Gallery, Chennai.
1997 - Seven contemporary women artists from different countries. Alliance Francaise de Chennai; Human Form and Art, Lalit Kala Akademy, New Delhi; Gallery 47, London, UK
1996 - "Faces and Figures", Quay Side Gallery, UK; 12th Cleveland International Drawing Biennale, UK.; "Chennai an Emotion. 1996", Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art.
1995 - "Contemporary Miniatures", Easel Gallery, Chennai; "Women Painters Show", Kottayam, Kerala.; Second Annual Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala; 23rd State Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala.
1993 - 1994 - "Research Awardees" Travelling Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar, Calcutta, Chennai; "Two women artists, Sarala's Art Centre, Chennai;
1990 - 93 - National Exhibition of Art, New Delhi
1987, 90, 92 - Regional Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
1984 - Women Painters Show, Trichur.
Workshops and Residencies
1999 - National painters camp at Moonnar, organised by Kerala State Lalit Kala Akademi; Painters camp at Venkatappa, Bangalore;
1998 - "Painting camp" organised by Tamil Nadu Ovia Nunkalai Kuzhu, at Chennai; "Nomads Project" international workshop at Kerala Kala Mandalam, Trichur, Kerala; "Painting camp" Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bangalore; "Nomads Project" international workshop for one month at Katsuyama beautiful mountains, Japan.
1997 - Kerala state camp organised by State Academy at Kila, Trichur.
1996 - One month Studio Residency at the Kunstseminar Metzingen, Germany
1994 - "Women Painters Camp", Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai.
1985 - "Painting Camp" at Trivandrum (Kerala) with Prof. N.S. Bendre.
1983 - Sculptors Camp" (Stone Carving) with Prof. Hiroshi Mikami from Japan.
Awards and Grants
1999 - Travel grant from Queen Hall Arts Centre - UK; Travel grant from Nomad Project for England and Japan.
1997 - 50th Golden Jubilee of Independence of India exhibition, Senior Award, Organised by Tamil Nadu State Akademi.
1996 - Grand Prize, 12th Cleveland International Drawing Biennale, U.K.
1995 - "Charles Wallace Award" through British Council, U.K.
1994 - "Kerala Sate Award" for Painting.
1993 - 95 - Scholarship from Shantidevi Mansinghka Trust, Calcutta.
1992 - 93 - Research Grant for Painting, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
1992 - Lions Club Award.
Collections
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
Alliance Francaise de Chennai
Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
Malayala Kala Gramam Mahi, Kerala and many private collections in India and abroad.
Address: Studio: 6, 7th Cross Street, Thirumalai Nagar, Peungundi, Chennai - 600 096. Ph: 4962611. E-mail: sajithas@hotmail.com Residence: 2/147a, Cholamandal Artists' Village, Injambakkam, Chennai - 600 041.
