Nalini Malani

Place: Karachi

Born: 1946

Biography:

Nalini Malani is an Indian artist, born on February 19, 1946, in Karachi, Pakistan. She is known for being one of the first generation of video artists in India. Her work encompasses various mediums, including theater, videos, installations, mixed media paintings, and drawings. Malani's creations are influenced by her experience of migration in the aftermath of the partition of India, and pressing feminist issues are also a part of her creative output.

Early Life and Career

Malani's early life was marked by her family's migration to India during the partition. This experience had a profound impact on her art, which often explores themes of identity, displacement, and social justice. She began her career as a painter, but soon transitioned to video art, becoming one of the first Indian artists to do so.

Artistic Style and Techniques

Malani's artistic style is characterized by her use of stop motion, erasure animations, reverse paintings, and digital animations. She often draws directly with her finger onto a tablet, creating intricate and layered compositions. Her video work, such as "Dream Houses", made in 1969, showcases her unique visual language.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Some of Malani's notable works include "Listening to the Shades", a series of paintings exhibited at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum in Mumbai, India. Her shadow play installations, such as "The tables have turned A shadow play", expand on the layering that appears in her paintings and drawings. Malani's work has been exhibited at various museums, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the National Gallery in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her art can also be found on Wikioo.org, where her paintings, such as "The tables have turned A shadow play", are available for viewing.

Awards and Recognition

Malani has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the Padma Shri award in 2014. Her art has been recognized by the Blake Prize, an Australian art prize awarded for a work that explores spirituality.

• Malani's work is characterized by her use of stop motion, erasure animations, reverse paintings, and digital animations.
• Her video work, such as "Dream Houses", showcases her unique visual language.
• Malani's art has been exhibited at various museums, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the National Gallery in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

is a pioneer of Indian video art, and her work continues to inspire and provoke audiences around the world. Her unique visual language and exploration of themes such as identity, displacement, and social justice have made her a prominent figure in the art world.