b. Manasi

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Biography:

Manasi Bhallamudi (B. Manasi) is a Chennai-based painter born in 1991. She became interested in art as a young child and eventually became skilled in several painting techniques including acrylic, watercolors, pen and paper, and charcoal. She received a BVA in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College (Chennai) and a postgraduate diploma in Painting from Chitra Kala Parishad College of Fine Arts (Bangalore). During and after her fine arts education, she participated in several group exhibitions. Notable among these are a show at Chitra Sante in Bangalore (2007) and the annual “Beyond Limits” exhibition at Arpana Art Gallery in New Delhi (2010-2017). She was also commissioned by a Chennai-based software company to produce several large paintings; the 13 resulting snowscape paintings now adorn the I-Flex Solutions corporate office. To date, she has sold more than 50 paintings.

While Manasi is skilled in several painting techniques, she strives to achieve more and communicate a powerful message to the world. As a final semester project, she produced the “Signs in Life” series, in which she showed how sign language signs imitate real life. Her goal was to demonstrate how well sign language helps people with speech and hearing impairment to communicate with the rest of the world. Beyond her disability-focused art, she uses her knowledge of color mixing and composition techniques to depict India’s natural beauty through landscapes and city scenes. Manasi’s work gives a distinct and accessible view of India through the lens of disability.

For inquiries about all available art, please contact Not Just Art.

Artwork:

  1. Home Life I (2017) - Acrylic on glass, 24x24” [available]. A faded image of a girl sitting with her grandmother, working on a large textile. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the words “try,” “design,” and “learn.” (#MABH001)
  2. Home Life II (2017) - Acrylic on glass, 24x24” [available]. A backyard veranda and courtyard with trees, a small pond, and potted plants. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the words “native” and “place.” (#MABH002)
  3. Chilling Out with Friends (2017) - Acrylic on glass, 24x24” [available]. Two girls stand in front of a clothing and shoe display in a store. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the words “shopping” and “buy.” (#MABH003)
  4. Pride of India (2017) - Acrylic on glass, 36x48” [available]. A river and wooded riverbank, with a bridge spanning the water. Some of India’s famous architectural landmarks are visible on the far side of the river. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the words “pride,” “of,” and “India.” (#MABH004)
  5. Annadaata (2016) - Colored pencil on paper, 24x24” [available]. Tilled fields separated by tall palm trees, drawn in red pencil. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the words “sow,” “harvest,” and “feed.” (#MABH005)
  6. Selfie (2017) - Acrylic on glass, 36x48” [available]. A self-portrait of the artist walking on a wooded path, with a small open hut in the distance. Drawn over the image are the American Sign Language signs for the word “selfie” and “clicking photos.” (#MABH006)
  7. Butterfly (2015) - Acrylic on canvas, 24x36” [available]. Two crossed hands in front of a yellow and black butterfly and light green leaves. The crossed hands are the American Sign Language sign for “butterfly.” (#MABH007)
  8. North Mada Street (2014) - Acrylic on canvas, 24x36” [available]. A busy street in the morning, with girls on the way to school and men and women going to work or worship. Buildings, cars, and trees line the road. (#MABH008)
  9. The Himalayan Desert (2016) - Acrylic on canvas, 24x36” [available]. A view of a desert in the Himalayan foothills, complete with fine sand and green shrubbery. Mountains are visible in the distance. (#MABH009)

Press: