'Personages' by Avinash Chandra, painting, watercolour on paper, India, 1960

A row of five male and female symbolical figures, composed of mainly vertical and circular forms, in red, orange, brown, grey and black.

Purchased from artist. No Rp.
October Gallery held an exhibition of his work in 1981 (May-June) for which there was an illustrated hand-out with text. In 1965, Chandra became the 1st Indian British artist to be featured at the Tate Gallery, with their purchase of 'Hills of Gold'.

Avinash Chandra was born in Simla in 1931. He studied at the Delhi Polytechnic Art School from 1947-1951. The artist moved to London in 1956. In 1965, Chandra became the 1st Indian British artist to be featured at the Tate Gallery, with their purchase of 'Hills of Gold'. During the mid 1960s, Chandra undertook several corporate art commissions for coloured glass murals & became renowned for their magnitude and vibrancy. In 1967 Chandra moved to New York following an award by the Fairfield Foundation Fellowship for Travel and Study. He held several exhibitions on the East coast & was well received by the American art community. Chandra returned to London in 1973. The artist exhibited his work internationally. He died in 1991.

In this painting, excuted in coloured inks, the artist has portrayed a row of highly stylized and geometric-looking figures. There appear to be three female figures and two male ones. These are composed entirely of vertical and circular forms in pastel colours (red, brown) as well as grey and black. The figures are reminiscent of the child-like watercolours of Swiss painter Paul Klee.

Avinash Chandra was born in Simla in 1931. He studied at the Delhi Polytechnic Art School from 1947-1951. The artist exhibited his work internationally. The artist died in 1991.

IS.220-1960