Thota Tharrani

Artist Name:Thota Tharrani
Reference Number:106
Year of Birth:1949
Location:Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Style: Abstract
Anything and everything inspires the artist in Thota Tharrani. His subjects are free flowing and never forced. Tharrani's eye for detail in the most trivial day to day nuances reflect beautifully in his art. His strong academic background has helped fine-tune his natural skills. When he was barely twelve years old, he contributed a number of drawings towards the Madras Art Club and his work was greatly appreciated. He enrolled in the Government College of Arts & Crafts at the age of 17 in 1966. In 1971, he passed his post Graduate Diploma in Mural Painting with distinction. In the same year he also attended a two-month Fresco camp in Rajasthan. After completing his education Tharrani went to Mumbai where he worked as a visualizer and artist for Sitas Advertising. In 1976 Tharrani received a scholarship from the Government of France and went to Paris where he studied printmaking under S.W. Hayter at his studio 'Atelier-17' (1976-1977).
Tharrani attended a Graphic Workshop at New Delhi in 1978 and in 1979, he attended a print making workshop in India by Alister Grand from the Royal College of Arts, London. He started hosting shows from the age of 20 and has more than 44 shows to his credit world over. Today, his travel across the globe has drawn him substantial recognition and acclaim. He has traveled to the United States of America, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. His visit to Japan under the auspices of the Japanese foundation led to his participation in the "Living in Seasons" in Toyoma, Japan. His versatile creations stand tall at destinations in France at the Archives Municipals de Bordeaux, Ecole des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux, Tourism de l'Inde, Paris and Maison de l'Inde, Paris. In India his art can be seen at Mitsubishi Corporation, Kolkata, ECC and Hindustan Motors, Chennai, Air India, Mumbai, SPIC, Chennai, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, KCP, Chennai & Delhi, Deccan Hospital, Hyderabad, The Catholic Syrian Bank, Trichur, TAFE, Chennai, RANE, Chennai, Madras Rubber Factory, Chennai, Chemplast, Chennai, National Art Gallery, Chennai, The Hindu, Chennai, India Pistons, Chennai, Kumbakonam Jewellery, Salem, Gallery Chemould, Kolkata, IDBI, Chennai, Credit Lyonnes, Chennai, ITC, Hyderabad, Tata IBM, Bangalore, Access Technologies, Bangalore and the Grand Kakatiya, Hyderabad.
His work consists of paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages and many other styles. He is one of the few people who have not restricted themselves to any one particular medium. He has tried everything from pencil, chalk, colour pencils, crayons and pastels to acrylics and watercolours on canvas, paper, boards, blackboards, sunmica and ceramic mediums. He has also experimented with paper collages and with wooden montages later in his career. His zeal for creating something novel and unique is what keeps him going undeterred.
PROFILE - TRAINING
Graphic Workshop Garhi Village , New Delhi.
1978 - Print Making "Atelier 17", S.W. Hayter, Paris.
1977 - Post Graduate Diploma {Fine Arts, Painting} Govt. College of Arts & Crafts, Chennai, India.
1971 - Fresco Training Camp - Banasthali Vidhyapith, Rajasthan.
PROFILE - PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPATION
INTERNATIONAL
1994 - Visitor of Japan Foundation, Japan.
1992 - Design Symposium, Crafts Festival "Living in Seasons" Toyoma, Japan.
1991 - Visitor of USIS/USIA, United States of America.
1985 - Visitor of British Council, London.
1985 - Visitor of France, Germany & England under the sponsorship of ICCR & British Council.
INDIA
1981 - Poster Designing Camp "X" Group, British Council, Madras Print Making Workshop - Alistair Grant
1979 - Royal College of Arts, London/British Council, Madras
EXHIBITIONS €“ SELECTED GROUP EXPOSITIONS
YUGOSLAVIA
1985 - Two Man Show with sculptor S. Nandagopal
Titl Gallery of Non-Aligned Countries, Titograd Germany
1995 - Two Man Show, Modern Art Gallery Alubjiana & Indian Cultural Centre, Bonn
FRANCE
1977 - Group Show: Sponsor "Crous", Orly airport Gallery
1977 - American Contradiction, Paris
JAPAN
1983 - Kanagawa International Print Exhibition
SPAIN
1983 - 3rd mini Prints Bennale, Barcelona
1984 - 4th Mini Prints Biennale, Barcelona
CANADA
New Graphic works presented by 28 contemporary artists Maltwood
1994 - Art Museum & Gallery - University of Victoria
DUBAI
2007 - Mapping India - A Celebration of South India
INDIA
1995 - Hope, Bangalore
1994 - Art Camp Organiser - Maurya Sheraton, Welcome Group, New Delhi
1993 - Trends & Images: Sponsor - CIMA, Culcutta & Delhi
1992 - Wouonds: Sponsor - CIMA, Calcutta & Delhi
1992 - Three Man Show with Raghavan and Bhavani Shankar, Jahangir Art Gallery
1986 - Three Man Show with MF Hussain and Leila Pawar, "The Gallery"
1983 - New Delhi National Exhibition of Art
1981 - Art Trend in south India : Sponsor - Reginal Centre, Lalit Kala Akademi
1978/80/81/82 - Madras State Tamilnadu Oviyam Nunkalai Kuzhu
1978 - Madras - 71 Prints - graphic Exhibition
1975 - Lacknow National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi
1971/72 Bangalore Mysore Pradesh Chitrakala Parishad
1971 - Bombay Art Society
1971 - Madras Young Painters & Sculptors
1969 - Bangalore Art Trend in the South - Maxmueller Bhavan
EXHIBITIONS - EXCLUSIVE EXPOSITIONS
FRANCE
1977 - Maison De L'Inde Paris
1977 - "Crous", Paris
1976 - France Archives Municipales De Bordeaux Austria
1977 - Vienna Biennale De Garbado – Graphic Arts Germany
2003 - "Ganesa", Berlin
MUMBAI
1991 - "Force" Series, Jehangir Art Gallery
1975 - Taj Art Gallery - Hotel Taj Intercontinental
1971 - Taj Art Gallery - Hotel Taj Intercontinental
1984 - Calcutta The Calcutta Art Gallery
1973 - Gallery Chemould
1992 - Bangalore Painting Exhibition
1987 - Kala Yatra
1974 - Ashoka Art Gallery, Hotel Ashoka
NAGPUR
2006 - Originals (Group Show)
CHENNAI
1999 - "Vinayaka" Kalakar Art Gallery
1996 - "Rajasthani", CITY Bank
1995 - EASEL Gallery
1991 - "Window" Series, The Gallery
1989 - "Summ", Sakshi Gallery
1988 - "Force", Sakshi Gallery
1986 - "Symphony", Sindoori Hotel (Dyanora)
1985 - Kala Yatra
1982/78/72/70 - Sarala Art Centre, Hotel Connemara
2003 - "Ganesha's" German
2004 - "Tamarai Neelum", Apparao Galleries
2004 - Forum Art Gallery
2004 - Aswitha Gallery [Rado Watches]
2004 - "Ganesha's" Painting
2006 - Symphony, Harmony & Liberty
2006 - Mechaniical Deities
2007 - Modern Trajectories, Vinnyasa Art Gallery
Coimbatore "Glimpses", Gitanjali Gallery & Sakshi Gallery
COLLECTIONS
Archives Municipales De Bordeaux , France
Ecole des Beaux Arts Bordeaux, France
Tourism De L'Inde, Paris , France
Maison De L'Inde, Paris , France
Mitsubishi Corp., Calcutta , India
ECC, India Hindustan Motors, India
Air India , Mumbai , India
SPIC, Mumbai , India
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi , India
KCP Chennai & New Delhi , India
Deccan Hospital , Hyderabad , India
The Catholic Syrian Bank, Trichur , India
TAFE, Chennai , India
RANE, Chennai , India
Madras Rubber Factory, Chennai , India
Chemplast, Chennai , India
National Art Gallery , Chennai , India
The Hindu, Chennai , India
India Pistons, Chennai , India
Kumbakonam Jewellery, Salem , India
Gallery Chemould, Calcutta
Ashvita Art Gallery , Chennai , India
And many other private companies and individual collections in India and abroad.
AWARDS
1980 - Graphic prints - Lalit Kala Accademi, Chennai
1972 - Prize for water colour, Chitra Kala Parishad, Bangalore
1971 - CAG Awards First and second prizes
1968 1969 & 1970 - First prize for three consequetive years for Wild life painting competion
1968 - Prize at Mysore Dussera Exhibition