Kiran
Soni Gupta's paintings on the, 'The Great Indian Desert' will be
on display at the Welcom Art Gallery, Chola Sheraton, Chennai
from September 30 to October 5,03. The inauguration would be on
30th at 6pm by His Excellency, Rama Mohan Rao, Governor. The
theme captivates the essence of rural life of India,
particularly the desert areas of Rajasthan. By virtue of her
administrative assignments she appears to have picked up themes
from ordinary mundane life raising them to a level of
romanticism & heights of artistic expression. Her work on
"The Famine" won her the National award in the All
India Art Exhibition organised to commemorate the jubilee
celebrations of the AIF ACS. Her works which are in oils &
also pastels reflect her skill in handling various mediums. Her
recent exhibitions were hosted by the Contemporary Museum of
Modern Art, Tehran at Elahe Art Gallery, Tehran & by
Alliance Francaise at Kandy, Srilanka & at Windsor Sheraton,
Bangalore.
Kiran is an
artist, writer and a feminist turned administrator who till
recently was the District Collector & Magistrate of Sri
Ganganagar District of Rajasthan and is now posted as
Commissioner, Command Area Development & Colonisation,
Bikaner. After a brilliant career in academics she joined the
Indian Administrative Service in 1985 and has held various
distinguished posts in the Government of India, Kerala &
Rajasthan. Her concerns and sensitivity to various contemporary
issues have been expressed regularly in her writing in many
national/ international newspapers/journals including The Hindu,
The Indian Express, The Tribune & The Economic Times.
It
is however through the brush & paint that Kiran Soni Gupta's
creativity and sensitivity finds the best illustration and
expression. Despite having no formal training in art, she has
produced a number of works in different art forms and styles.
Her works very vividly reflect not only her conviction and
clarity on issues relating to women, children, poverty,
development and environment, but also her keen sense of
observation, humility and above all an abounding faith in God
and service to humanity and mankind. From sketches, pen &
ink works, to mixed media, she has given new horizons to art
forms both traditional and modern. Creativity with colours and
experimentation has given her work both depth and impact.
Various assignments have provided her opportunities to travel
and also to stay amidst nature as diverse as the rain drenched
tropical forests and beaches of Kerala and the scrub lands &
the desert of Rajasthan and this is vividly expressed in her
landscapes in oil, stained glass, knife paintings, water colours
& also mixed media works. The iconic influence of the
spirituality and mythology of her surroundings is all there in
many of her paintings especially in the Tanjore style.
Kiran's
association with well known artists & masters has given
birth to some of her best etchings, wood cuts, linocuts,
lithographies & calligraphies. She has now produced a series
of more than three dozen works titled 'Harmony' reflecting
various forms of relationships between man & his
environment. Her works have been exhibited at different
national/international events, and she has to her credit the
organisation of many solo exhibitions/group shows. She has
participated in many art camps & is acknowledged for her
promotion of art in every field. This year she organised the
" Kala Kumb -2003" in collaboration with the AIFACS
wherein a congregation of more than150 artists from all over the
country gave expression to their artistic creativity in the
historical Junagarh Fort of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Her initiative
to give a social purpose to art was applauded when she
contributed Rs I.50 lakhs to Chief Minister's Famine Relief
fund. In order to give a platform to the local artists, she has
been the moving spirit behind the formation of the Bikaner
Creative Aritists Society which has just concluded its show in
New Delhi.
Born
in Ludhiana, Kiran Soni Gupta belongs to the well-known Soni
family from Punjab. Her father H.L. Soni is an advocate and
mother Nirmal Soni had instilled in her the best values of life
& sensitivity to the finer arts. These interests in art are
also shared by her husband Madhukar Gupta, a former batch mate
who is presently the Divisional Commissioner in Bikaner &
who has worked in different assignments with the United Nations,
Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of
Rajasthan and also in the non profit sector. They have a ten
year old daughter Narayani & a seven year old son Vishnu who
too have a. strong proclivity for colours.
Kiran
Soni Gupta realised her affinity & love for art while at
school at Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana and during her
graduation from Govt. College for Women, Ludhiana. She took her
Masters degree in Sociology from the College of Basic Sciences
at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, with a record
4.00/4.00 grade point average. Thereafter, she obtained her
Ph.D. from the Haryana Agricultural University and also a degree
in Law from the Delhi University. She has also been an ICAR
fellow and has recently been conferred with an award from the
Rajasthan Canadian Cultural Organisation for her commitment to
development and contribution in the social sector.
Her
interest in art & nature has taken her to many countries
including Mauritius, South Africa, Sudan, Kenya, Egypt, Dubai,
United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany &
Australia. This travelling has only reconfirmed her faith in
humanity & in the goodness of all creative activity.
Kiran Soni
Gupta feels that she owes her achievements to the inspiration
and encouragement of her late father H.L. Soni, who was the
prime motivating force in her life. The works in fact, are a
tribute from a daughter to a loving father who was also her best
friend.
Kiran
Soni Gupta's paintings on the, 'The Great Indian Desert' will be
on display at the Welcom Art Gallery, Chola Sheraton, Chennai
from September 30 to October 5,03. The inauguration would be on
30th at 6pm by His Excellency, Rama Mohan Rao, Governor. The
theme captivates the essence of rural life of India,
particularly the desert areas of Rajasthan. By virtue of her
administrative assignments she appears to have picked up themes
from ordinary mundane life raising them to a level of
romanticism & heights of artistic expression. Her work on
"The Famine" won her the National award in the All
India Art Exhibition organised to commemorate the jubilee
celebrations of the AIF ACS. Her works which are in oils &
also pastels reflect her skill in handling various mediums. Her
recent exhibitions were hosted by the Contemporary Museum of
Modern Art, Tehran at Elahe Art Gallery, Tehran & by
Alliance Francaise at Kandy, Srilanka & at Windsor Sheraton,
Bangalore.
It
is however through the brush & paint that Kiran Soni Gupta's
creativity and sensitivity finds the best illustration and
expression. Despite having no formal training in art, she has
produced a number of works in different art forms and styles.
Her works very vividly reflect not only her conviction and
clarity on issues relating to women, children, poverty,
development and environment, but also her keen sense of
observation, humility and above all an abounding faith in God
and service to humanity and mankind. From sketches, pen &
ink works, to mixed media, she has given new horizons to art
forms both traditional and modern. Creativity with colours and
experimentation has given her work both depth and impact.
Various assignments have provided her opportunities to travel
and also to stay amidst nature as diverse as the rain drenched
tropical forests and beaches of Kerala and the scrub lands &
the desert of Rajasthan and this is vividly expressed in her
landscapes in oil, stained glass, knife paintings, water colours
& also mixed media works. The iconic influence of the
spirituality and mythology of her surroundings is all there in
many of her paintings especially in the Tanjore style.
Kiran's
association with well known artists & masters has given
birth to some of her best etchings, wood cuts, linocuts,
lithographies & calligraphies. She has now produced a series
of more than three dozen works titled 'Harmony' reflecting
various forms of relationships between man & his
environment. Her works have been exhibited at different
national/international events, and she has to her credit the
organisation of many solo exhibitions/group shows. She has
participated in many art camps & is acknowledged for her
promotion of art in every field. This year she organised the
" Kala Kumb -2003" in collaboration with the AIFACS
wherein a congregation of more than150 artists from all over the
country gave expression to their artistic creativity in the
historical Junagarh Fort of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Her initiative
to give a social purpose to art was applauded when she
contributed Rs I.50 lakhs to Chief Minister's Famine Relief
fund. In order to give a platform to the local artists, she has
been the moving spirit behind the formation of the Bikaner
Creative Aritists Society which has just concluded its show in
New Delhi.
Born
in Ludhiana, Kiran Soni Gupta belongs to the well-known Soni
family from Punjab. Her father H.L. Soni is an advocate and
mother Nirmal Soni had instilled in her the best values of life
& sensitivity to the finer arts. These interests in art are
also shared by her husband Madhukar Gupta, a former batch mate
who is presently the Divisional Commissioner in Bikaner &
who has worked in different assignments with the United Nations,
Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu, Government of
Rajasthan and also in the non profit sector. They have a ten
year old daughter Narayani & a seven year old son Vishnu who
too have a. strong proclivity for colours.
Kiran
Soni Gupta realised her affinity & love for art while at
school at Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana and during her
graduation from Govt. College for Women, Ludhiana. She took her
Masters degree in Sociology from the College of Basic Sciences
at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, with a record
4.00/4.00 grade point average. Thereafter, she obtained her
Ph.D. from the Haryana Agricultural University and also a degree
in Law from the Delhi University. She has also been an ICAR
fellow and has recently been conferred with an award from the
Rajasthan Canadian Cultural Organisation for her commitment to
development and contribution in the social sector.
Her
interest in art & nature has taken her to many countries
including Mauritius, South Africa, Sudan, Kenya, Egypt, Dubai,
United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany &
Australia. This travelling has only reconfirmed her faith in
humanity & in the goodness of all creative activity.
