Nalini Malani is a recognized Indian painter who was an emigrant during the partition of the country, and therefore the majority of her paintings reflect themes based on expatriatism. Various types of iconographies are portrayed in the paintings practised by this versatile painter. The colours employed in her canvas assert about urbanization and globalisation or `internationalism`. Her paintings are a non-verbal declaration of her protest against nationalism which is stinged with hypocrisy. Numerable exhibitions showcasing her paintings are organised in different parts of India, as well as overseas.
Early Life of Nalini Malani
Nalini Malani is an extremely capable painter who has imbibed education in the sphere of fine arts from various organizations. She had pursued Diploma in Fine Arts from Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy School of Art in Mumbai form 1964 till 1969, prior to studying Fine Arts under a programme of French Government Scholarship in Paris, from the year 1970 to 1972. From the period between 1964 and 1967, Nalini Malani practised painting at a studio at the Bhulabhai Memorial Institute, Mumbai where theatre personalities, msicians and dancers and artists often conglomerated. Malani received her Art Fellowship from 1984 to 1989 from the Government of India. She was born in the year 1946.
Works of Nalini Malani
Besides displaying the inborn creativity of the painter, Nalini Malani`s art-works boast about the varied issues revolving around international matters. The concept of conserving trees and thus striking a balance with Mother Nature is exhibited in some of her paintings. One will observe a carefree manner of her brushstrokes and colours utilized in her creations.
`Reverie`, `Love II Series`, `3 Girls at Play`, `Family of Street Performers`, `On Saving Trees` and `In Search of Vanished Blood` are amongst the notable masterpieces of Nalini Malani`s paintings. Saving Trees, accomplished in 1996, highlights the significance of preserving greenery while Reverie which is the Portrait of N.Pushpamala speaks about a modestly dressed lady lost in thoughts, completed in 1988. The latter was oil on canvas. Her work `3 Girls at Play` enjoying their games in a lush green lawn is another of her praiseworthy works, along with the Family of Street Performers. Four street performers engaged in showcasing dangerous stunts to earn their daily bread are displayed in the `Family of Street Performers`. `Love II` series is an extraordinary work which is painted in three distinct frames. The central frame is the largest one while the two other frames, at the sides are of equal sizes. Orange colour adorns one of the frames, beautified with red coloured dots, and a couple is painted over it. It was painted in 1991. Another frame is painted in blue and bordered with white, on which a human figure is demonstrated. The central frame contains random strokes in bright colours, containing images of some humans.
Indian themes motivated Nalini Malani, who preferred to sexualise her female protagonists and depict women crucial humans who played a pivotal role in society - both rural and urban. Some of the characters which she used in her paintings include Alice form Lewis Carroll`s Alice in Wonderland, Sita, Radha, Mad Meg from Breughel`s art-works, Medea and many others. Her female figures appeared in isolated contexts or open interpretation. During the period of 1980`s and 1990`s, Nalini Malani started receiving accolades from various places and thus she went on to become one of the India`s very first video artists.
