Manjeet Bawa

Renowned painter Manjeet Bawa was born in Punjab and moved to Delhi, graduating from the College of Art, New Delhi where his professors included artists like Somnath Hore, Rakesh Mehra, Dhanaraj Bhagat and B.C. Sanyal. But his greatest mentor was Abani Sen who inspired the artist in identifying his own style. Bawas experience as a silk screen printer in Britain between 1964- 1971 helped him to employ uncluttered modes of expression.

Nature appeared as a strongly significant theme in his works. He was an ardent seeker of philosophy and music which is reflected in his immense interest of religion- a combination of the two. There are manifestations of mythic symbols and animals turned into auspicious iconography. Whatever the story might be, the presentation was of an imaginative manner.

A distinguishable feature is the central image always towering within the frame. It confronts the viewer in the way a sculpture does with its material and tactile reality. Female figures often energize the solid background with a quaint mode of stillness. He was known for his brilliant understanding and use of color. The artist preferred more traditionally Indian colors inspired by miniature paintings. The ochre of sunflowers, the green of the paddy fields, the red of the sun, and the blue of the mountain sky were prominent, pink and purple too profusely used. He was one of the first painters in modern India to break out of the grey and brown tones dominant in Western Art and known for his vibrant and fine tonalities in the service of a pristine and elegant simplicity.

Manjeet Bawa was awarded the National Award in 1980 by the Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.