An exhibition of contemporary South Asian Art, Colours of Karma, comes to London in February 2005. European audiences can now flavour some of the finest contemporary Indian and Sri Lankan fine art, closer to home. This eclectic collection of paintings portrays the South Asian sub-continent in traditional folklores as well as the contemporary avatar. An interplay of eastern philosophies, illustrated by karma and dharma (i.e. destiny and religion) are brought to life in modern interpretation and elegant representation.

The show includes works by Indian Artists: Gopal Adivekar, Chandra Bhattacharjee, Madhuri Bhaduri, P.A. Dhond, Subroto Gangopadhyay & Bairu Raghuram. From Sri Lanka the artists are: Stanley Kirinde, Shehan Madawela and Druvinka Madawela.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

GOPAL ADIVEKAR (1938) a distinguished abstract artist, has held solo shows since 1970 in India and Australia. He has received several awards and honours. He has influenced the art scene as an artist and curator. Adivrekar's canvases are reminiscent of the beautiful coastal region that he hails from. Gopal's paintings are in collections of various museums in India and in private collections internationally.

CHANDRA BHATTACHARJEE (1961) studied at the Indian College of Art and Draftsmanship, Kolkata. He has held several group as well as solo exhibitions all over India, as well as International exhibitions in South Korea, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto, New York and London. His collections are held in Chandigarh Museum; Park Sheraton; Chennai Essar Group; Indian Oil; Citibank; Hoechst India and other private and corporate collections in India and abroad.

P.A. DHOND (1908 - 2001) one of the leading water-colourists of India, studied at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. His work spans over seven decades and includes over 7,000 landscapes. Dhond has received numerous awards in India. He has had many shows in India, Kabul, Ankara, China & Russia. His works are part of numerous collections, including those of the National Museum, Delhi; Nagpur Museum, Nagpur; Baroda Museum, Baroda; Mayor of Stuttgart.

SUBROTO GANGOPADHYAY is considered one of India's leading painters in the modern realistic tradition. He exhibits regularly in India. His work is in the collections of RPG Enterprises, the Taj Group, the Chennai Museum, Mayo College, and the Victoria Memorial, to name a few. His work is also part of private collections in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

STANLEY KIRINDE (1930) was educated at Trinity College, Sri Lanka and the University of Ceylon. A self taught artist, whose talents are critically acclaimed, his works are collected locally and internationally. Major works include portraits (e.g. a portrait Sri K.R. Narayana, President of India, commissioned by the Indian Government), mosaic murals for institutional headquarters, and historical paintings which are part of the President's House Collection in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has participated in exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution (USA) and at the Festival of Asian Art - Fukuoka, Japan.

DRUVINKA MADAWELA (1971) painter and printmaker, trained in Santiniketan where she received a First Class in the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her work has been exhibited in the U.S.A., India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and throughout Europe. Recent works adopt new technical devices like the use of Nepalese bamboo paper on canvases and pasted printed matter. She is one of the most sought after contemporary talents of Sri Lankan.

SHEHAN MADAWELA (1960) lives and paints in Mysore, India and Sri Lanka. He has won numerous awards including the prestigious Artist of the Year, George Keyt Foundation, 1994. His works are part of international private and public collections including in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Britain and the U.S.A. Shehan regularly exhibits in Sri Lanka in sell out shows.

PARTHA SHAW (1971) received his BFA and MFA from the Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. Son of the illustrious painter Lalu Prasad Shaw, he works mainly with landscapes, handling them in a contemporary method. His style of work has been termed "Figurative Symbolism," a conscious effort to exhort the virtues of the non-abstract. Patha Shaw's work is shown all over India. This young artist is already highly sought after, having potential for a brilliant career.

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