NAYANAA KANODIA

Nayanaa Kanodia [1950] An economist turned painter, Naynaa is a self-taught artist whose satirical humour with postmodern sensibility commenting on varied social situations as the vacuous conversations over cups of tea or the ubiquitous family photographs at the local studio where the protagonists assume momentary powers to satiate their middle class egos. The humour and wit is articulated through her figuration that borders on caricature evoking a smile from the viewer. The inherent superficiality that has become the malady of life and society has been probed incisively and intelligently by Naina. Reinforcing the kitsch is her plastic and decorative bright, effulgent colours that are in keeping with the popular culture. Through interpolation with the middle calss culture and life she has created a biting narrative of their ambitions and desires. Her themes are varied and she has painted on diverse aspects of Indian society and life generally. The naivety that characterizes her works is born out of her perceptive observations, but powerfully strategized to impact on the viewers’ sensibility. This is further reinforced by the surreal ambience, which has resonance to Henri Rousseau the nineteenth century French painter.