Chavda could be considered a painter of movement — but not just movement. His paintings depicted men and women in dance — across communities, styles and countries. They emerged from his travels across India and South-East Asia — a series of images that captured not only the specifics of a particular style, but also the culture, the joy and the purposefulness of the dance.
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Celebrity publicist Anna Rothschild recently hosted designer Frederick Anderson’s New York Fashion Week (NYFW) after-party at New York hotspot Veranda and invitees were treated to a visual feast as select paintings of Indian master Shiavax Chavda were put on display.
The eight paintings comprising abstracts and semi-abstracts by the master draughtsman offered a fascinating introduction to the art of Chavda and evidenced an exquisite distillation of his boundless curiosity coupled with his multicultural sensitivity. The Indian artist’s recent exhibition was held at Veranda, Grand Street, New York.
We hear…
…That Anna Rothschild hosted a party for designer Frederick Anderson’s at Veranda. Art by Shiavax Chavda was on display and guests included Candace Bushnell, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Danny Baker, Petra Khashoggi and Libbie Mugrabi. It was sponsored by Glenfiddich whiskey and Hendricks gin.
Shiavax Chavda, who was part of the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group, held his first show at the Taj Mahal Hotel Prince’s Room in 1945. He gave top priority to drawing and was considered a master draughtsman.
The artist experimented in various artistic styles studying and recreating with his deft strokes the human body, birds, serpents and other animals, Balinese masks, famous Indian ancient temples and cave sculptures, Indian musicians, classical Indian dancers, semi-abstract and abstract art. He worked with paper, canvas, silk, plywood, Chinese ink, crayon, watercolours, tempera and oils.