Manhattan artist Gazala Chinwala has been invited to compete in one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world.
NEW YORK: Manhattan artist Gazala Chinwala, who most people in Mumbai remember as the glamorous face of Bombay Dyeing in the 1970s, has been invited to compete in one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world. She has been invited to send two pieces to the nine-day Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art starting on 1 December.
The exhibition at the historic Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy will be showing works by top artists from 52 countries. The contemporary art exhibition is backed by the United Nations and is dedicated towards celebrating cultural diversity.
“I am delighted the jury liked my work,” 58-year-old Chinwala who has worn many hats, told DNA. She traded Mumbai’s fast-paced modelling world to join Manhattan’s power banking circles but has been painting steadfastly for 26 years.
“I sold privately even while working in corporate America, but never had enough time to focus on it. When I worked as a banker for the Citigroup, I had an agent in Manhattan who commissioned me to do masterpiece reproductions of the 20th Century Western masters Modigliani, Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Gauguin. I never studied painting formally but love the masters and studied their techniques for years,” she added.
The final push to start painting originals came from her family when Gazala quit banking five years ago. Gazala has decided to send a 9/11-themed oil on canvass titled In Ruins for the Florence Biennale. “I painted In Ruins with Sept 11th in mind. It was a sad time for New York, America and the world. I love this city and have lived and worked here for 26 years. It hurts to think that every time we think of it we think of that dark period.”
“In Ruins is an abstract contemporary artwork which reflects the dark day, yet shows light ahead. Interestingly, as people stare at the painting, a discussion inevitably starts; some see a city emerging through the clouds.”
Gazala who migrated to New York in 1981 continues to have strong Indian roots; “I moved with my husband and two daughters to New York decades ago and still have a home in Mumbai.” The preoccupation with Mumbai shows in Gazala’s near photographic series titled Reminiscing India.
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