Jehangir Sabavala (1922 - 2011)

Jehangir Sabavala (1922-2011)

Born in 1922 in Mumbai, studied painting at Sir J.J. School of Arts in 1944. Later he went on to study at the Heatherley School of Art, London from 1945-47, and in Paris at the Academic Andre Lhote from 1948 to 51, the Academic Julian between 1953 to 54, and the Academic de la Grande Chaumiere in 1957. His work of the formative years marks this restlessness with turbulent bursting of colour along with monumental presence of human form in a post-cubist stance, which he had acquired at the ateliers of Paris and which he has carried with him all through these years.

Marine encounter

Jugs in consonence

Slowly and steadily he disciplined himself, as the colour sheet becomes mellow, the human figure stands in solitude and where images enter only to get dissolved. Sabavala remains essentially a figurative painter with a strong predilection for the landscape and carries with him the soul of an émigrée and the racial memory of expulsion, dislocation and exile which gives a distinct character to his work. His mere act of painting transcends into metaphysical. During the last five decades, Sabavala has presented more than thirty solo shows across the sub continent and Europe. In 1977, Jehangir Sabavala was honoured by the Government of India with Padma Shri. In 1993, the Art Society of India, Mumbai, honoured him with a citation and All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi with ‘Kala Ratna’. In 2002, he received Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Award, Mumbai. Sabavala lives and works in Mumbai.

pictures Courtesy: http://www.copalart.com