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About the Artist

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Born  23rd Sept,1960, New Delhi, India.

 

The first time you see Seema Kohli's work, you're taken aback by the

brilliance of the colors, the delicious strangeness of the figures and

the ethereal brushwork: intricate, profound and expertly crafted. But

what you will remember is the mysterious orb that hangs over her

oeuvre, sometimes in paint and sometimes in spirit, it is the golden

womb and it is her refrain, her leitmotif and the centre of her

artistic vision.

 

This is where Seema Kohli spent 11 months of her life, her mind still

unformed; her body still undecided, and because she had more time, she

remembers, making her art an unfurling chronicle of a memory and the

narrative of her journey. To her, the womb represents the perfect half

way house, between the material and the divine, it's where we let go

our cosmic consciousness and finally take on the human condition,

forever forgetting where we came from and what it all means.

 

Her brush excavates, discovers and brings into focus, sights and

sounds of this world within a world, capturing creation in creation,

unearthing the cycle of life from under the miscellany of living. And

it's from deep inside the womb that she gets her inspiration, as if

she is an insider, giving us glimpses, stories and songs only she is

witness to. It's these glimpses that become the subjects of her critically

acclaimed work. Not surprisingly, her recent mixed-media work,

Ouroboros is the story of birth, of life and liberation, brought alive

through a virtuoso performance that spans across 84 paintings and

photographs.

 

In 2009, she received the prestigious Gold Award at the Florence

Biennale for her video installation, Swayamsiddha-Myth, Mind and

Movement. Important works of hers have found their way into public and

private collections across the world, most recently at the Rubin

Museum, New York; the New Delhi International Airport and the Indian

Defense Ministry.

 

She has also received the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation Women

Achiever’s Award and the Lalit Kala National Award for Women in 2008 -

one of the highest honours an artist can receive in India.

 

Seema Kohli currently lives and works in New Delhi. 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

1981        B.A. (HON.) Philosophy, Miranda House, University of Delhi.

1983        Diploma in Applied Arts (ITI) , South Delhi Polytechnic, New Delhi.

2002        Worked in collaboration in Lithography with Mr. Devraj Dakoji.

2002,2004   Worked in Bharat Bhawan.

1995,2005   Worked and trained in Triveni Kala Sangam under the eminent artist Mr. Rameshwar Broota.

 

 

AWARDS

 

2010    Young FICCI Ladies Organisation Women Achiever's Awards.2009        

Gold Medal Florence Biennale - for 2-channel video installation, Swayamsiddha.

2008      Marg Drishti Award, South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, New Delhi.

2007    Lalit Kala Akademi National Awards for Women.

 

 

SELECTIONS

 

2010     Fashion meets Art series, art work by Seema Kohli (Gallery Art Positive) and fashion installation by designer Niki Mahajan, FIO, The Garden of   Five Senses, New Delhi.

2010   Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai.

2010     Permanent collection, Essl Museum, Austria.

2010     Los Angeles Art Fair.

2009     Florence Biennial.

2009     Asian First Film Festival, Singapore - screening & nomination.

2009     Gabron Museum Vallodalid , Spain.

2009     The Shore Institute of The Contemporary Arts, New Jersey.

2008     Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong.

2007     Lalit Kala Akademi National Awards.

2007     Florence Biennial.

2006     Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.

2003     Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual, Drawing.

2002     Sahitya Kala Parishad Annual, Photography.

2002     Camlin Northern Regional Competition.

2001     AIFACS Annual Painting Competition.

2001     AIFACS Annual (State Level) Drawing Competition.

2001     CAMLIN North Regional Annual Competition.

2000     AIFACS Annual Drawing Competetion.

1998     Sahitya Kala Parishad, Annual Exhibition.

 

 

SOLO SHOWS

 

2011    Oroborus, Art Summit, presented by Gallery Nvya, New Delhi.

              Syncronicity, Gallery Time and Space Bangalore and 

              AJainMaranuchi ,NYC,USA.

              Modula Conceptions,Dubai.

              Shristi Gallery ,Hyderabad.

2010     Myth is Reality by Gallery art and Soul, Mumbai.

2009     Mystical Narratives, Mahua Art Gallery, Bangalore

2009     Swayam Siddha, curated by Dr. Alka Pande and presented by Gallery Nvya.

2009     Philosophical Fantasy, Gallery Seven & Art & Soul.

2008     Artist of the Month, Bajaj Capital Art House.

2007     Hiranya Garbha, Gallery Space, Hyderabad.

2007     Hiranya Garbha - The Golden Womb - curated by Dr. Alka Pande, Art Room gallery at Visuals Art Gallery.

2007     Alchemy, Arushi Arts at Kitab Mahal, Mumbai.

2006     Hiranya Garbha, Chor Bazaar, London, curated by Sushma K Bahl.

2006     The Eternal Womb Art Heritage curated by Ebrahim Alkazi, New Delhi.

2004     The Golden Womb, paper works at Anayas Art Gallery, New Delhi.

2003     Random Introspection, The Grand and Maurya Marriot, New Delhi.

2002     The Golden Womb, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

2001     Hiranya Garbha, ISU Art Gallery, Singapore.

1999     Spirited Sprite, Triveni Gallery, New Delhi.

1999     Reflections, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

1999     Black & White, ANZ Grindlays, New Delhi.

1998     The Quest, AIFACS, New Delhi.

 

 

GROUP SHOWS

2014   'India - The Revealed Mysteries' in Conjunction with Venice Biennale 2014 , Venice , curated by Sandro Orlandi , co curated by Sangeeta Juneja.

2013   'Confluence des Arts'  a group show of 100 artists at Gallery Artchill, Amber Fort , jaipur.

 

2012        Chamba Rumal by Forum art Gallery,Chennai, India.

     Devotion by Art Positive, New Delhi.

     Harvest-Arushi Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Women:Sacred and the temporal by Shristi Art Gallery, Hyderabad.

     DigitalArt by Forum Art Gallery,Art Chennai, Chennai.

     Devotion By Art Positive,VAG, New Delhi.

     Udarta By Indo Australian Collaberation, VAG, IHC, New Delhi.

     Annual Show by Chawla Art Gallery, VAG, IHC, New Delhi.

     In Search of Equiblirium-Shristi, Hyderabad.

     Panchtatva by Indian Art Fair 2011by Gallery Nvya, New Delhi.

     "Cross over " and Indo BanglaDesh joint endeavor curated by Sushma Bahl.

     Archana Sapra at IIC,New Delhi.

 

2011        Continnum by Lat 28, Singapore.

     Itheca curated by Ina Puri by Prakrit Art Gallery in LKA, New Delhi.

     Roop Katha curated by Ina Puri for Gallery Nvya.

     "I am living" nanhi chaan by Badal Foundation.

     “Lost Sparrow” at Threshold,New Delhi.

     “Shakti” at Kalakritti,Hyderabad.

     “Harvest” Arushi art Gallery,New delhi.

     Annual Show at Sara Arakkal Gallery,Bangalore.

     Nanhi Chhaan,Gurgoan,Haryana.

     Ecelectic Ensemble ,House of Art,New Delhi.

     Visual Ventures at Emami Chisel,kolkota.

     "Eye on India" by Teamwork Productions & Anookul Inc in - Chicago at Festival of Indian Arts and Culture

     Annual by lat 28, New delhi.

     Samay,Krisala Art, UK.

     ‘Pratibimb’—Reflections of Indian Art, Visual Arts Gallery presented by Dhoomimal City Gallery, New Delhi.

     Racism and Reconciliation, Art Konsult, curated by Sahar Zaman, New Delhi.

     Portrait of an Artist, Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi.

     A collection of individualistic works of art and jewellery, presented by Gallery Art & Soul, Mumbai.                

 

2010        Convergence, Art Positive, New Delhi.

     ‘10 x 10’, Gallery Threshold, New Delhi.

     '‘Art Celebrates! 2010’ Sports and the City’, Lalit Kala Akademi, presented by Arushi Arts, curated by Rupika Chawla, New Delhi.

     ‘The Art of Luck’: Card-o-logy II’, Gallery Le Sutra, presented by Samsara Art, curated by Jasmine Shah Varma, Mumbai.

     'Articulate ‘ by Pratham, Christie’s, London.

     'Devotion-Transformation’, Art Positive, New Delhi.

     '7 Women Artists', Art Heritage 1, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.

     'Where the Streets have no name', Salaam Baalak Trust Children, curated by Dr. Alka Pande, Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Fusion', Krisala Arts, Art Corridor, Taj West End, Bangalore.

     'The Spirit of a Butterfly', Gallery Art & Soul, curated by Prayag Shukla, Mumbai.

     God vs Spirituality and Art Loot, Khushi, New Delhi.

     Art for Concern, Annual Art Show by Concern India Foundation, Shrishthi Art Gallery, Hyderabad.

     'At Eye Level', Art Select, curated by Karim Adrian Van Rogers.

     Journey V, Gallery Art & Soul, Mumbai.

     'Annual Art Show' Pink Ginger Art Gallery, Mumbai.

     Evolve, Tao Art Gallery.

     Kumar Art Gallery.

     Master's Corner, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. Organised by the Indian Contemporary Art Journal.

     Moments, a group show to inaugurate the second space of Arushi Art Gallery, New Delhi.

 

2009        Living Art Expanse, O'Palacio Gallery, New Delhi.

     Secret and Sacred, Polka Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Harmony, Arushi Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Step By Step, Nitanjali, Alliance Francaise, New Delhi.

     Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

     Florence Biennale, Florence.

     DigiIndia by Teamwork, Gabaron Museum, Vallodalid, Spain.

     The Shore Institute of The Contemporary Arts, New Jersey.

     Satyagraha, presented by Teamwork, Vallodalid Spain.

 

2008        Beyond Boundaries, Visual Art, UK.

     Ashtanayika - Curated by Dr. Alka Pande, Stainless Gallery, New Delhi.

     Gandhi Centenary, curated by Teamwork, South Africa.

     Dus Mahavidya- book release and group show. Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.

     Legends of India, ICCR, Kolkata.

     Annanya, curated by Sushma Bahl , Bajaj Capital Art House,

     Art for Freedom by Tehelka, AICON Art Gallery London.

     Baisakhi Show, Polka Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Annual Show at Chawla Art Gallery, Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Continuum' presented Udayan Care, curated by Sushma Bahl

     'Artscape', curated by Sushma Bahl, Epicentre, Gurgoan.

     'Aspirations', Sahaj Snakalp, curated by Archana B Sapra, Epicentre, Gurgoan.

     'Sakti - Women in the vanguard of Indian Art', Indian Art Circle, New Delhi.

 

2007        Florence Biennial, Florence.

     'Fact and Fiction', curated by Sushma K Bahl at SW 1 Gallery, London.

     'Devotion' by Galleria.

     'Art Mart', curated by Priya Pall and Hema Singh at Art Mart, Nehru Centre, Mumbai.

     'Confluence', by Gallery Art Pilgrim at the Trinity Towers, Mumbai.

     'Vistaar', curated by Sushma K Bahl and presented by Limited Editions, at the Stainless Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Devotion', by Art Positive at Alliance Française, New Delhi.

     'Colors of Life' - by CPAA at Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai.

     'Art for concern' - by CIF at Taj Palace, New Delhi.

     'Variable Strokes' - works by Fourteen Contemporary Artists from India.

     'Shiksha' Show by Round Table India at Hyatt, New Delhi.

 

2006    Gallery Collection at Art Heritage, New Delhi.

     'Devotion' by Art Positive at India Habitat Center, New Delhi.

     Gallery Collection by Art Heritage at Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi.

     Seven Women Artists Show at Bharat Bhawan, New Delhi.

     'Polka - Different Strokes', by Arushi Arts, Delhi and Mumbai.

     'Mumbai Se' Contemporary Indian Art Show, by Art Positive

     'Harvest' by Arushi Arts, New Delhi.

 

 

2005    'Devotion' by Art Positive at Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi.

     'The Written Word' by Apparao Galleries Chennai.

     'Journey Through Line, Colour and Images', by Krishna Gallery, LKA New Delhi.

     Arushi Arts Summer Show 2005, at Shridhirani Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Two Man Show of drawings by Arushi Arts at Triveni Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Art Felt - "The Mixed Bag" 100 years of CPI, Arpana Centre for Art & Literature, New Delhi.

     'Harvest' Arushi Arts, Mumbai.

 

2004    'The Picture Family Show' at Apparao Galleries, Chennai.

     'Collage' - 5 Women Artists' Show at Art Cafe Launch, Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi.

     'Art for Vision' - Shankar Nathrayalya, LKG, New Delhi.

     'Badal Raag', Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal.

     'Harvest 2004' by Arushi Arts.

     'Celebrating Women, 50 Women Artists' Show , Chemistry of Colours, Matigarh, New Delhi.

     'Women on Women' by Indiacircle.com, New Delhi.

     Fankar Group, Ravindra Bhavan, New Delhi.

     Fankar Group, Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore.

 

2003    Absolute Art, Gurgaon, Haryana.

     'Harmony' Show- 8, Nehru Centre, Mumbai.

     'Expression of Art', Vyakt Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Heart & Soul', PBC, New Delhi.

 

 

2002    'Harvest 2002', by Arushi Arts, New Delhi.

     UNDCP hold show on art at British Council Library, New Delhi.

     'Daffodils', at Grand Hyatt, New Delhi.

     Karma Art Gallery, New Delhi.

     Russian Centre of Art Culture & Sports, New Delhi.

 

2001    'Stree Shakti' at Habiart, Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

     'Miniature Magic' at Habiart, Habitat Centre New Delhi.

     'Reflections' at Swastika Gallery, New Delhi.

     'Lines & Images' at Swastika Gallery, New Delhi.

     '20 Women Artists' by Indo-RAFAS, Russian Centre, New Delhi.

     'Kaleidoscope' ISU Art Gallery, Singapore.

     'And Buddha Smiled Again' Masters Guild - AFAL, New Delhi.

     'Man in Nature' Studio 55, New Delhi.

     'Sphote' - Habiart, New Delhi • 'Aparajita' Vhai for Gujarat Earth Quake Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

     'Group' by Sir Vincent Gallery, Bangalore.

 

2000    'Young Faces Of 2000' Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta.

     'Art Folio' Chandigarh.

     'Rainbow -1' Art Today, New Delhi.

     'Rainbow -2' Art Today, New Delhi.

     'Art Panorama' at CPLA, New Delhi.

 

1999    'Art Junction' Hotel Intercontinental, New Delhi.

     'Sangraha' Group Show at CPLA, New Delhi.

     'Annual Show' by Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta.

     'Summer Show' at Art Today New Delhi.

 

1998    ANZ Grindlays Bank, New Delhi.

 

1997    Sahitya Kala Parishad, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi

 

 

PUBLIC  PROJECTS

 

2010     Commissioned works for the Delhi International Airport, GMR T3, 10 x 100 feet.

2010     Commissioned works for the newly constructed Domestic Airport, Mumbai.

2009     Commissioned works for the newly constructed International Airport, Mumbai.

2009     Yajurveda - an installation in steel, produced in collaboration with Jindal Steelworks (apprx. 7.5 ft x 3.6ft x 9.4 ft), installed at Manipal.

 

 

University, Karnataka 

 

2009     Commissioned paintings for Ministry of Defence

2004     Worked on Frescoes - oil on fabric on the wall (approx.12ft x 4ft, and 12ft x 8ft)

 

 

FILMS

 

2011     Ouroborous-5min,Concept,direction,performance,presented by Gallery Nvya at Art   Summit,New Delhi.

2010     ‘Swayam Siddha – Myth, Mind and Movement’ Cogito Ergo Sum and ‘What were you thinking about any ways’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

2010     What were you thinking anyways’, Art Mart, curated by Sushma Bahl, Epicentre, Gurgaon.

             ‘Swayam Siddha – Myth, Mind and Movement’ and ‘What were you thinking about any ways’,         Gallery Time & Space, Bangalore.

2009     Swayam Siddha - Myth, Mind and Movement. Concept, performance and direction. 

               Winner of the Gold Award at the Florence Biennale, 2009.

2009     'What were you thinking about anyways' 8 mins Concept, performance and direction.

2006     '100 Miles' Northern Railways, Barog to Shimla, Centenary Year (directed) 28 mins Concept and direction.

 

 

ART FAIRS / FESTIVALS

 

2012     Beiging Biannale , Art Chennai 2012, Indian Art Fair,new Delhi 2012.

2011     India Art Summit ,Gallerie Nvya Shanghai Art Fair 2011,AjainMaranauchi Gallery, NYC.

2010     Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai, India.

2010     Indinox, Jindal Steel participation at the Stainless Steel Conference + Fair, Ahmedabad.

2010     Los Angeles Art Fair, USA.

2009     International Art Festival in Kathmandu.

2009     India Art Summit, New Delhi, India.

2009     ARCOMadrid, Spain.

2008     Art Basel.

 

 

Interactive sessions/Talks/Presentations/Conducting Workshops

 

2012     WIN,Rome.

         Tedex Chennai, India.

         IFRD, Mumbai, presented by Stree Shakti.

         Presentation at the Interanational Womens Forum,Chennai.

         Presentation and interactive session at the "Cross Over" the Indo Bangladesh.

2011     Presentation and an interactive session at NGMA Bangalore.

2010     Presentation and a interactive session at Kalakritti Gallery in Hyderabad.

 

 

OTHER  PROJECTS

 

2012     StainGlass Doors with VLCC and Sonia Sareen.

2010     Aasana Art Chair Exhibition at Gallery Le Sutra.

2010     Art Tiger Project, Arts for the Tiger, New Delhi.

              Invited as speaker on 'Harmony through Art' - Param Ekagrata Conference organized by the Rotary International - District 3010.

2009     Worked with autistic children at the Autistics Society, Dubai.

2009     Igniting Minds and Ideas: A Workshop in Tihar Prision, New Delhi with Latitude 28.

2009     Presentation of the Goddesses in Buddhisim at the foundation of SAARC Writers & literature SAARC Apex Body.

 

 

OTHER  EDITIONS

 

2011     The Masters collections by People for Animals.

2007     Silk Scarves with imprints of conceptualized and signed art work, to be released by the Taj Group of Hotels in Jodhpur on the 26th of October 2007        Conceptualized art work printed on a glass lotus in collaboration with Klove for Limited Editions Gallery, 2007.

2007     Khushii India on Canvas 2007', collaborated with Twinkle Khanna.

         28th October 2007, 'Khushii India on Canvas 2007', conceptualized artwork along with Twinkle Khanna.

  'Rays of Light' Translation of a book on Anand Murti Guru Maa.

 

 

INSTALLATIONS

 

2012     Butterfly Rain with Kala Godha Festival,Mumbai with Art and Soul Gallery.

2011     India Art Festival,Mumbai with art and Soul Gallery.

              Andpersona at Meridian Hotel,New Delhi.

              Butterfly Rain with Andpersona at Meridian Hotel,New Delhi.

              Ouroboros at the India Art Summit.

2009     Hiranyagarbha in metal wire installed in LKA,New Delhi.

              Yajurveda in collaboration with Jindal steel.

 

 

ART CAMPS

 

2012      ASEAN Countries CROSS CURRENTS by ICCR in Darjeeling Art Chennai.

               Art Industry by TATA Steel, Jamshedpur.Bali by Vihan Foundation.

2011      "Think Fest "Art for Freedom by Thelka Group. 

               International Symposium by SGVP in Gulburga,Karnatka,India.

               LVPrasad Eye institute at Hyderabad.

              Greece by Prakrit Gallery, Chennai.

               Tata Steel Jamshedpur. 

               Gallery point of View,Mumbai at Burma.

2010      Popular Prakashan, Goa.

2010      Nirja Modi Art and Culture Foundation.

2010      Krishnakriti, Kalakriti Gallery, Hyderabad.

2008      Art Basel.

2007      Hyderabad by Gallery Space 2006 - Bali by Polka Art Gallery.

2006      Bharat Bhawan PrinMaker Camp, Bhopal.

2005      Whelams Boys School, Dehradun organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, Garhi, New Delhi.

2004      City Palace, Jaipur held by Art River 100 Years of the Kalka-Shimla Rail Track, Barog, Shimla by Northern Railways & Art River.

2003      Venu Eye Institute, New Delhi.

1983      Delhi Polytechnic, New Delhi.

 

 

 WORKSHOPS   2002 – 2005

 

      'Wanderlust', by Karma Art Gallery, New Delhi.

   'Art Voila' at Tivoli Garden, New Delhi.

   'Joy of Colors' by Capital Court, New Delhi.

   'UNDCP', New Delhi.

 

 

AUCTIONS

 

2012      Art Loot by Khushi Jai Vakeel Cancer Society India (Mumbai) by Naina Kanodia Art Chennai Treasure Trove by Jai   Vakeel Group Concern India, New                Delhi, Plan India, Mumbai.

2011      Treasure Trove Nanahi Chaan,by Badal Foundation Concern India,New Delhi,Mumbai India on Canvas by Khushi,New Delhi Cry, India in London,UK

2010      'The Treasure Trove' by Research Society for Care,Mumbai

2010      WIA Golden Ball, Inter-continental Hotel, Park Lane, London, U.K.

2010      'Confluence' with Prakrit Art and Rotary, Chennai

2009      Khushi, Art Loot, New Delhi

2009      Khushi, New Delhi

2006      Bonhams, U.K

 

 

COLLECTIONS

 

H.E. The President Mr. S.R. Nathan; Chairman of the Arts Council, Mr.Liu Thai Ker; and the Indian High Commissioner Mr. P. P. Shukla, Norway: H.E. the High Commissioner Mr. Arney Walther; ICCR; Camlin; UNDCP, Raj Niwas, Pondicherry: Northern Railways; Indian Railways; CTC; CCS India; Venu Eye Institute, Shankar Nethrayala; Bharat Bhawan Bhopal; Lalit Kala Akademi; Sahitya Kala Academy; Goa Museum of Art, Goa, TATA Steel, TATA Residency, VLCC, Jindal Stainless; Tata Residency, Manipal University; Pai Group, Leela Group of Hotels, TOI Group, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai; Rubin Museum, NYC,USA and art lovers in India and abroad.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Swayamsiddha, (Ed.) Alka Pande, published by Gallerie Nvya, 2009.

Dusmahavidya, (Ed.) Keshav Malik, published by Ravi Kumar Jain Publications, 2008.

Rays of Light' Translation of a book on Anand Murti Guru Maa 2001.

 

 

CONTRIBUTIONS  &  WRITINGS

 

2012        Sultana (centenary issue)AMU.

2011        Ek Disha by ASSOCHAM contribution of paintings.