Sunaina Bhalla
About the Artist:
Sunaina is a textile designer by profession, having lived, studied, and worked in Delhi India. She worked with the saree designer Satya Paul , prior to moving to Bangalore in 1994, where she freelanced as a textile designer for various silk export houses, and designer boutiques.
She moved to Japan in 1996 and has since then been involved with Japanese art forms, both formally and informally. She chose to pursue a more detailed study of Nihonga (Literally means Japanese art), and study formally under a reputed sensei for 5 years. Her work ‘Nihonga’ ; the purest Japanese art form -, which drew inspiration from nature and everyday life in Japan, was influenced by her close observation and examination of Japanese tradition, culture which she experiences first hand, living in Tokyo, Japan.
Sunaina relocated to Singapore in 2003, after seven years in Japan , and here again, her style underwent a complete change, influenced greatly by the change in environment and circumstances which reflect in her subject matter and media. From traditional Japanese art to very contemporary socio-economic issues, she uses the traditional motifs of birds to comment on current issues.
She has exhibited her works in Tokyo, Singapore and India. Her second exhibition in the themed series ‘The Rising Sun’ was sponsored by The Japan Foundation as the art representation for the 50 year celebration of Indo -Japan cultural ties. Sunaina is also one of very few non-Japanese artists who have invited to exhibit at Japanese art exhibitions in Japan.
Sunaina currently lives and works in Singapore.
Exhibition History:
2009 – CPAA Annual Exhibition,’Colours of Life’, Cymroza Gallery Mumbai
2009 – Gallerie Alternatives’s 10th Anniversary show,’Creative Intent IV’ Visual Arts Gallery, Habitat Centre and Gallerie Alternatives Gurgaon
2007 – ‘A Silent Comment’ Solo show at The Museum Gallery Mumbai First Singapore Art Show
2005 – Singapore ‘Judges Choice’ award for her work titled ‘Peace-Freedom’, at the first nationwide Art Show organized by the Singapore Ministry of Communication and the Arts
2005 – ‘Contemporary Showings’ at the Merlin Gallery, Singapore An exhibition of contemporary works showcasing six selected South East Asian artists.
2004 – ‘Individuals’ at the Art Loft Gallery, Alexandra Road, Singapore Anthony Tan and Sunaina Bhalla
2002 – Solo show at The Visual Arts Gallery, Habitat Center, New Delhi, India Second in the themed series ‘The Rising Sun’. Focused on creations depicting Pan Asian influences on traditional Japanese Art. selected and sponsored by The Japan Foundation as the art representation for the 50 year celebration of Indo -Japan cultural ties Inaugurated by H.E. Hirabayashi, Japanese Ambassador to India.
2002 – Solo show at Art Folio gallery, Chandigarh, India
1999-2003 – Four group shows in Tokyo, Japan One of few non-Japanese artists invited to participate in exhibitions of Japanese art in Tokyo, Japan
2001 – Solo show of Nihonga paintings at The ANZ Gallery, Mumbai, India The first in a two part themed series : ‘The Rising Sun’. Focused on creations depicting Pan Asian influences on traditional Japanese Art.
