Anju Dodiya

Anju Dodiya’s minimal palette and pragmatic drawings are contemplative, defined and subliminal. Born 1964, Anju Dodiya graduated from Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, in 1986. She practices with charcoal, watercolours and pastels while experimenting with scale, tones and textures. From two dimensional works, she has also recently ventured into three-dimensional installations. One of the prominent contemporary Indian artists today, Anju’s figures are ethereal and have become one of the most appealing renditions of the time.

Based in Mumbai, Anju often portrays herself as being within the picture or situation and not an outsider. Evidently, they remind us of visual responses by Frida Kahlo, wherein the figurations are staunchly feminine as well as feminist. At the same time, the smudgy effect adds to the lingering essence that is generally recognised with living and sustenance. Aiming to effectively generate a sense of anxiety and changing moods, the self-portraits, being protagonists, are emblematic of surrounding objects that are personal and experiential.

Referencing poetry, mythology, history, miniatures, ukiyo-e prints, cinema and masters, a range of such relative forms mark the twist in her visual analogies. Do they attempt to impose a worldly story? Or are they natural recurrences that tell us about the artist’s pool of subconscious? They form crucial elements of Anju’s drawings and paintings! In a way, her works project an inclination towards self-reflection and discovering herself. As a constant process of introspections would lead to experimentation, Anju has also created installations in embroidered mattresses and mirror pieces.

Anju has widely exhibited solo at prominent galleries and participated in many international shows and fairs. Appreciated for bold lines and applications, Anju has been part of the Fifth Beijing International Art Biennale, 53rd Venice Biennale, Fourth Edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and many other reputed group exhibitions.

 Anju Dodiya lives and works in Mumbai, India.