Anjolie Ela Menon
New Delhi
Statement
Born in 1940 in West Bengal, India, Anjolie Ela Menon was exposed to a diverse cultural milieu right from an early age. The multicultural home environment she received - being born to an Indo Armenian father and an English-Welsh mother, played a significant role in shaping her artistic sensibilities. She pursued her fine arts training first at the Sir J.J. College of Fine Arts, and then eventually at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Art in Paris. This helped hone her skill and conceptual prowess further.
Her artistic style and sensibility is a captivating blend of realism and abstraction, wherein she often incorporates elements of mysticism and symbolism. Menon draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including Indian miniature paintings, Byzantine art, and the works of European masters. This amalgamation of influences results in a unique visual language that is distinctly her own. Through her work she explores a wide range of themes, but the human form remains a central focus across most of her practice.
Her hauntingly expressive portraits are charged with a sense of introspection and psychological depth. Her nuanced portrayals of individuals, whether they are anonymous faces from the streets of India or iconic figures from history stand as a testament to her ability to capture complexities of human emotions and experiences. Her practice also delves into socio-political issues, wherein it reflects upon human conditions as well as the changing dynamics of society. Due to the nature of her practice, she has left a distinct mark on the landscape of Indian Art.
Over her exhaustive career spanning over over six decades, her works have been exhibited at various national and international venues and have received widespread acclaim. Her paintings occupy an important position in various institutional and private collections, thus solidifying her position as one of India's most celebrated artists. She has been honored with several accolades, including the Padma Shri for her contributions to art.
The Lawrance School
Sir JJ Institute of applied art
Padma Shri - 2000
Kalidas Samman for visual arts - 2018
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