Vijay Saraf 'Meenaghe'
Art inspires life. Art speaks a language of its own. Through murals, frescoes, paintings, sculptures, and portraits, art has expanded our horizons. You need not be a connoisseur to appreciate a beautiful painting
Born 29th March, 1956, Jammu (INDIA)
Studied painting at Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Jammu under Vijay Gupta.
1978 – First Class First (B.F.A.) Painting from University of Jammu.
2000 - Got Senior Fellowship, from H.R.D. Ministry, Govt. of India.
2010 – Member, General Council, J&K Academy of Art Culture & Languages.
2011- Dean and Principal of IMFA (INDIA)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1980-Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1980-Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
1982-Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
1984- Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
1992-Art Gallery, I.M.F.A. Jammu.
1992-Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1992-Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
1995-Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
1996-Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1997-ABC Art Gallery, Varanasi.
1999-Abhinav Art Gallery, Jammu.
1999-Amar Mahal Museum, Jammu.
1999-Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.
2001-Auditorium Hall, Jammu Club, Jammu.
2001-Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi.
GROUP EXHIBITION
1974, 84, 91, 92, 98, 99-Annual Start Art Exhibition (J&K)
1980, 81, 83-All India Exhibition of Art Amritsar.
1982-Birla Academy of Art, Calcutta.
1984, 90-National Exhibition of Art by L.K.A. New Delhi.
1985-All India Art Exhibition Abhinav Art Gallery, Jammu.
1986-Neo-Images, A Photo Exhibition, Jammu.
1987-All India Exhibition of Prints, Jammu.
1988-Art Exhibition by IMFATA, Jammu in memory of Vijay Gupta.
1990-N.R. Exhibition, Agra.
1991-Invited to participate in Trienalle-VII (International Art Exhibition) New Delhi.
1991-International Art Exhibition at Russian Art Centre, New Delhi.
1991-Artist of J&K by Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1991-IMFA Art Gallery, Jammu.
1992-Indian Drawings, All India Exhibition of Drawings, Abhinav Art Gallery, Jammu.
1994-IICCA Art Exhibition, Jammu.
1995-AIFACS, New Delhi.
1996-L.K.A. Art Gallery by J&K Culture Academy.
1996-8th-N.R. Art Exhibition of Art, L.K.A. New Delhi.
1998-National Exhibition of Art, L.K.A. New Delhi.
1999-Amar Mahal Museum, Jammu.
1999-National Exhibition of Art, L.K.A. New Delhi.
2001-Contemorary Indian Painting, Germany.
2003-Kala Kumb Show at Bikaner Palace, Art Gallery.
2005-Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2006-Kala Kendra, Jammu.
2008-09-Kamani Auditorium by J&K AACL, Delhi.
2009-Exhibition of Paintings at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi, by J&KAACL.
AWARDS
1974-Youth Welfare Department, Jammu.
1975-University of Jammu.
1975, 90-J&K Academy of Art Culture & Languages.
1983-All India Exhibition of Art, Amritsar.
1999-J&K Academy.
COMMISSIONED WORKS
1981-Mural in Terracotta (18 × 15) Jammu.
1988-Mural in Mix Media (10´ × 6´) Nagrota, Jammu.
1994-Oil Painting (12´ × 4½´) (Harmony “Parimahal, Shankaracharya, Hari Parvat, Hazratbal & Dal Lake) for Raj Bhavan, Jammu and Kashmir.
1994-Oil Painting (12´ × 4½´) (Jammu 100 years ago) for Raj Bhavan, Jammu & Kashmir.
1996-Mural in Mix Media (7´ × 6´) Channi Himmat, Jammu.
2000-Mural in Ceramics tiles (15´ × 7´) Anand’s Residence, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.
2002-A huge Mural in Mix-Media (Acrylic Colours on Canvas. Wood, Glass Mosaic, Iron & Marble) (16´ × 17´ × 9´ approx) at Center of Electronic Designing Technology of India, University Campus, Jammu.
2008-Two Paintings in acrylic (19 ft × 9 ft) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra.
CAMPS
1979-All India Artist Camp, Srinagar by J&K Culture Academy.
1989-All India Painters Camp, Chasma Shai Srinagar by N.Z.C.C. Patiala.
1992-All India Artist Camp, Mansar, Jammu by L.K.A. New Delhi.
1993-All India Artist Camp, Kulu by N.Z.C.C. Patiala.
1993-All India Artist Camp Ladakh by Tourism Department Jammu & Kashmir.
1993-All India Artist Camp Sudhmahadev by Tourism Department, Jammu & Kashmir.
1995-All India Artist Camp Chandigarh by N.Z.C.C. Patiala.
1996-AIAC, Jullandhar by Appejay & NZ.C.C.
1999-College of Fine Arts by J&KAACL, Jammu.
2001-All India Artist Camp Organised by AIFACS New Delhi.
2001-All India Artist Camp at Patnitop (Parvati-Top) organized by University of `Jammu.
2003-All India Artist Camp, Bikaner.
2004-All India Artist Camp, Pahalgam (Kashmir) by Deptt. of Tourism.
2004-All India Artist Camp, Patnitop (Parvati-Tap) organized by University of Jammu.
2007-Artist Camp, Bhaderwah by C.E.O. (Bhaderwah).
2008-All India Artist Camp, Kashmir by J&KAACL.
2009-All India Artist Camp, Kala Kendra by J&KAACL.
ART SHOW ORGANISED
1987-Exhibition of Prints, Abhinav Gallery, Jammu.
1994-IICCA, Art Exhibition, Abhinav Gallery, Jammu.
2002-Young International Printmaking Camp at IMFA, Jammu.
2008-09-15Alumni, IMFA, at University of Jammu.
ON AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA
1993-2002-Eight Times Audio-Visual Film made on the works of the Artist with interview by Jammu and Kashmir Doordarshan.
2003-Filmed on the life & works of the artist by Sh. Bikram Singh.
OTHER EXPERIMENTS
1974, 81, 85, 90, 95, 99, 2002, 2006, 2009-Done Installations.
2001-Fusion with Classical Music, Poetry, Classical Dance, Light & Other Organic & Inorganic Material.
2004-Made one hour duration CD on Utpati, Praley & Gayatri in different Ragas as part of Painting.
2004-Live performance of Painting (15´ × 5´) at University of Jammu.
2005-Live performance of Painting (30´ × 5´) at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu.
2010-Three Books on Poetry Tihi and short stories under process of printing.
COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
Dr. Karan Singh, New Delhi.
Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
Satish Choksi, Bombay.
Bank of America, New Delhi.
Vivek Burman (Dabur, New Delhi).
Michnol Mudler, Germany.
Ftanccso Del Gudico, Holland.
Morinus Vlugter, Amsterdarm.
Pavamahal, U.K.
Shah Kokila Subash U.S.A.
Enca Chan, U.S.A.
Yu Tae Hee, Korea.
Nausli Wadia, (Bombay Dyeing, Bombay).
S.L. Somiya, Bombay.
Madhulika Lamba, New Delhi.
E. Alkazi (Art Heritage) New Delhi.
Kirti J. Sheth, Bombay.
Raj Bhavan, Jammu.
University of Jammu (V.C’s Office).
Late Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah, Srinagar.
Agro Industries, Jammu.
A.R. Antulay, Bombay.
Rashtriya Lalit Kala, Lucknow.
Dogra Art Museum, Jammu.
Joginder Lal Kuthiala, Jammu.
Harbans Wahi, Jammu.
D.S. Gawande, Puna.
N.Z.C.C. Patiala.
Rohini & Hemal Shete, Bombay.
Tourism Deptt. Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir.
J&K Culture Academy.
Davinder Batra, Jammu.
Amar Mahal Museum, Jammu.
Late Ram Lal Saraf, Jammu.
Devinder Rana M.L.C. (Vehicleade), Jammu.
Chairman’s Residence,J&K Bank.
B.B. Raina, (Pelican Cables), Jammu.
Dewan Bansal, Jammu.
11, Field Regiment, Jamshedpur.
Heman M. Doshi, Bombay.
Sh. Susheel Somani, Bombay.
Sh. A.V. Gupta, Senior Advocate, Jammu.
J&K Bank, Zonal Office, Jammu.
J&K Bank, Head Office, Srinagar.
Himanshu Vaid, Jammu.
J&K Bank, University Branch, Jammu.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Ex-Chief Minister, J&K.
L.t. General’s Official Residence, Nagrota Jammu.
CEDTI, University Campus, Jammu.
Prof. Amitabh Mattoo’s Residene, New Delhi.
Rin Chen Po Bzang, Art Callery University of Jammu.
Shree Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra (Jammu).
Army Institute, New Delhi.
At present working as Principal in Institute of Music & Fine Arts (University of J&K) India
Ph. : 0191-2555694
STUDIO
“HARGAURI”
165-D, Sector-3,
Roop Nagar (Upper), Hills
JDA Colony,
Jammu, J&K-1800013.
INDIA
M. : 9419195849, +447721010949
vijaymeenaghe@gmail.com
REVIEWS
The painter’s emphasis on plain surface and raw pigment is a unique part of the vocabulary of abstraction… The handling here is direct, positive and vitual … achieves warmth, passion and the flourish of musical orchestration.
-- KESHAV MALIK (The Times of India)
These creations claim immense originality …They are original without being too comlex to appreciate.
-- DNYANESHWAR NADKARNI (The Times of India)
…The artist’s handling mediates a variety of referent sinto images of vivid power … Saraf’s idom finds highly charged metaphors for the present time’s own variety of epic unease.
-- RANJIT HOSKOTE (The times of India)
Unbound by convention, his works exude a brilliant enlightenment … he succeeds in touching the conscious as well as imperceptible layers of the mind…
-- NIYATEE SHINDE (Indian Express)
Saraf made, a favourable impression, as innovative artist … and his totally committed stance to painterly values.
-- S.V. VASUDEV (Evening News of India)
Vijay exhibits large abstracts in oils … There is technical virtuosity here … he has devised a whole range of spatula.
-- KRISHNA CHAITANYA (The Hindustan Times)
…His solo show, which brings out the young artist’s search for a visual language, mainly derived from the emotive content of colours … Saraf has ot power and promise.
-- SANTO DATTA (The Hindu)
Reality emerges in bold strokes and layers of paint … the pigmented canvases have an aesthetic aura around them.
-- D. ARORA (Patriot)
… Saraf’s paintings are strong enough to stand on their own without distractions.
-- MANJULA PADMANABHAN (Indian Express)
There are no rigit boundaries of form, no dimensional obstacles in his paintings … the forms blend, even as they stand out independently, till they dissolve in the whole.
-- RAMNI JOHANSON (Free Press Bulletin)
Viewed at the deepest and perhaps, subconscious level, a certain intangible mysticism forms and intriguing counterpoint to the visual roughness and concrete evidence of these pieces.
-- (The Sunday Observer)
Here is a creative artist who denies himself the existence of his ego in his work … he has no preconceived notions about his work … as if guided by an unseen force.
-- R.T. SHAHANI (Indian Express)
Vijay Saraf has thrown all traditional norms of painting art to wind. To put it, succinctly he is out of establish “non-art” as art … He is revolution sing art with divine experiences.
-- SURAJ SARAF (Kashmir Times)
… His works are rationalizations of seasons, seasons of life, tides of colours … he discovers the aesthetic absurd … He is a winner with colours : He can command them, but the surrenders to them and to the highest in him, without thought he lives with colours and paints when he has painted.
-- BALKRISHNAN KACHROO
Vijay Saraf, a contemporary artist. Is relentlessly involved in research to explore new visual dimension … believes in innovation, creating new values, to enlarge the perception.
-- LALIT GUPTA (Indian Express)
A unique experiment in Art … Saraf merged together to leave a memorable impression on the minds of the viewers.
-- RAVINDER KAUL (Daily Excelsior)
In his paintings brush strokes are complete sentences. He has delves deep and makes deft stroke there emerges aesthetic visuals.
-- DEEPIKA B. THAKUR (Kashmir Times)
A very spontaneous work with bold colours and textures worked out with a dexterous hand.
-- (Chandigarh Newsline)
Harmoniously arraged forms, a smooth blending of different colours produce aesthetics of high order.
-- (The Afternoon Despatch & Courier)
… a journey from material interrelations in a two-dimensional space to an interaction of matter and consciousness and finally to a meeting of minds.
-- SUNEET CHOPERA (art critic-writer)
… The painting carries the reflection of his mind … an avalanche of colors which the eyes want to see so desperately.
-- VIKRAM SHARMA (The State Times)
