ANGELI SOWANI

Often listed as an Indian / UK artist, Angeli was born in 1959 in New Delhi into a multicultural family. With an English mother and an Indian father she was raised in Agra before moving to live in Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong and England, each move presenting her with new forms of inspiration, whether it be “the sight of bloody scarifies made to deities in Nepal…; the Buddhist imagery and use of gold leaf in Thailand; & the Ancestor paintings, seals and votive papers burnt in offering to the Gods in Hong Kong” (Angeli Sowani)

More recently Angeli’s works have been influenced by her move to the UK. A Change in tone and colour are noticeable in her first London Exhibition “Identity in Abstraction” in 2004. The vibrancy and heat of the orient have been softened, she comments, “I was inspired by the flagstones and the interplay of light and shade in the interior of the cathedrals. Also fascinating were the tree-lined streets of Winchester”.

Her move to the UK also brought with it a greater awareness of current events, “I try to read newspapers a lot as I get subjects from daily news”. As a result recent works make reference to the July bombings in London and the Tsunami in December 2005, highlighting human reactions to these tragic events.

EDUCATION

• 1978 – 1983 Degree in Visual Communication, Graphic Design & Illustration
• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 2004 Identity in Abstraction II, King’s Road Gallery, London, Curated by Tanya Baxter
• 2002 Identity in Abstraction, The Rotunda Gallery at Exchange Square, Hong Kong, Curated by Nigel Cameron
• 2001 Figures in Abstraction, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2000 Paintings by Angeli Sowani, Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2000 Faces and Figures, the Rotunda Gallery at Exchange Square, Hong Kong, Curated by Nigel Cameron
• 1998 The Artist and the Sculptor, The Rotunda Gallery at Exchange Square, Hong Kong, Curated by Nigel Cameron
• 1997 Paintings by Angeli Sowani, Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1995 Beginnings, Alliance Francaise Gallery, Bangkok

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2005
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
London Art Show, London
Affordable Art Fair, London
The Harmony Show, London

2004
London Art Show, London
Affordable Art Fair, London
Jehangir Gallery, Mumbai
Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
The Harmony Show, Mumbai

2003
Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
London Art Show, London
The Harmony Show, Mumbai
Affordable Art Fair, London

2002
The Harmony Show, Mumbai
London Art Show, London

2001
The Watchdog Exhibition, Hong Kong
The Harmony Show, Mumbai

2000
Art Today Gallery, New Delhi
Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1999
Art Today Gallery, New Delhi
Gallerie Martini, Hong Kong

1998
Contemporary Indian Art, Chicago
Gallerie Martini, Hong Kong
Le Gallery, Singapore
The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong

1997
Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong
Gallerie Martini, Hong Kong
Rotunda (50 years of Independence), Hong Kong

1996
Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1995
Chang Gallery, Bangkok

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