Bindu Bajaj Chainani

I have been a self-taught artist since 1984. I am a graduate in Commerce, Inter Chartered Accountancy. Gradually, after working through experience and whatever came naturally, I became involved with learning aspects of art through certified professionals. I have had as my mentors Revankar, from whom I learned ceramic pottery decoration and oil on canvas, Nina Nahata who taught me the skills of using mehendi in a cone and making ceramic flowers and Vernekar who specialized in teaching oil on canvas. The skills that I have adapted into my artwork so far have been foil work, golden grass, ceramics, solar wood on fabric, cone painting, sand painting, ceramic flowers, oil and acrylic painting on canvas, oil painting on pots and relief work in oils.

In 1986 I was awarded 1st prize at Chinai College, in Mumbai, India for embossing in aluminum foil. Since then I have had many exhibits, and in 1995, organized an exhibition at Sai Jyot Art Gallery in Mumbai India. In the same year I had a solo exhibition at Sai Jyot Art Gallery, of paintings and pottery, and an exhibition of pottery at the Namaskar Foundation in the US. In 1996 my pottery went on exhibition at the Stamford Public School, CT. In 1997, my work returned to India with an exhibition of paintings at the Images Art Gallery, Banglore, India. The most recent exhibit of my oil paintings took place at the Media Center of the Stamford Public School, CT.

Brought up in a country known for its ancient wisdom and cultural heritage has incited in me an urge to continuously develop my craft and indulge in the multifaceted aspects of life through colors. I would like my artwork to highlight the
blending of the east with the west and that the basic underlying feelings in all humans whether from the east or the west are ultimately the same whether be it in respect of tradition, religion, culture, peace or happiness. Being a sensitive person, there is an urge to paint, to visually interpret the seen and the unseen. I also feel that Art is a means of communication to reach far and wide. I suppose these are all instinctively felt urges. I believe the canvas is an excellent medium of selfexpression. It enthralls me to project the variant human moods of caring, ecstasy, fear, and joy, and portraying different modes of living inspired by surroundings through the splash of colors besides other subjects. Using the brush, I am able not only to satisfy my inner urges to be in harmony with nature, but at the same time it gives me the feeling that I am doing what I was born to do.

When I am not painting I have my other skills, or loves as I call them, which are playing the sitar and the harmonium. I also sing classical, and speak five languages that include English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and French.