CELEBRATE RENOWNED ARTIST SHIAVAX CHAVDA 27 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH

Written By Zubin Daruwalla

Source: Verve Magazine

In the later ’80s, I had the privilege of interviewing a quiet and gentle man who worked isolated on his canvases in the terrace studio of his home, near what was formerly the Metro Cinema, in Mumbai’s Dhobi Talao area. By the time of our meeting, Shiavax Chavda (1914-1990) had already made a name for himself in artistic circles. As early as 1956, he had been honoured as one of the Nine Eminent Artists of India by the Lalit Kala Akademi. His works today grace collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; museums in Baroda, Nagpur and Budapest; the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Tata Services; Godrej Boyce & Co, apart from several other private and public collections worldwide.

 

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Prominent Indian artist Shiavax Chavda’s works showcased at NY Fashion Week
Prominent Indian artist Shiavax Chavda’s works showcased at NY Fashion Week

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.

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Stellar lineup of celebrity guests at 2/25 afterparty with display of works by shiavax chavda
Stellar lineup of celebrity guests at 2/25 afterparty with display of works by shiavax chavda

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.

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Indian Masters Retrospective Exhibition featuring paintings and sketches by artist shiavax chavda
Indian Masters Retrospective Exhibition featuring paintings and sketches by artist shiavax chavda

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.

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Zubin Daruwalla
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