Manish Chavda

Born in 1978, Manish Chavda finished his Diploma in Painting with Distinction in 2002 and Art Teacher’s Diploma in 2003. He received the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy and Shree Manekaba Silver Medal from Sheth C. N. Vidhyalay, Ahmedabad in 2002. He has also won the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy Scholarship in 2002. In 2004, he won the 112th All India Annual Art Exhibition by Bombay Art Society, Mumbai. 

Chavda has experimented with all kinds of colours in his journey as an artist. But most of his works are subjugated by a single colour. For example, if it is red, the entire canvas will be filled with an amalgamation of light and dark shades of the same colour. After that, other rudiments such as flowers, birds, the moon, stars so on and so forth depending on the work and his instinct as an artist go in. 

As Chavda progressed in his artistic endeavors, he tried to bring out the essence of the colours he has used and attempted to spread them out to the whole canvas. And when that essence emerged as the colour white, it has become a quintessential part of his paintings. This was a slow process, but one can see the combination of lighter and darker shades of white in his paintings and it has also made its way into his colour pallette. And even though one might see the various vibrant colours in his paintings, white still has as much depth as any of them. 

The vastness of the images being created in the different shades of white also gives an experience, which is unparalleled. White color is not visible to the naked eye, but our whole existence and of everything around us is illuminated on the strength of this white light. If there was no light there would be only darkness.  

Chavda, thus, feels that this white light which gushes across his works takes viewers on a divine journey. To the self. And that is why by looking at these pictures, one experiences ultimate peace. 

Chavda has participated in exhibitions across Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and other cities. He has been part of more than 35 to 40 group shows, and more than seven solo shows. He has also attended multiple art camps conducted across India.  

Chavda lives and works in Jamnagar, Gujarat. 

His exhibit is titled Song of Love under the Half Moon, an oil on canvas made in the year 2021.