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Mahaveer
Swami (Miniature
Artist)is
descended from a family of traditional Bikaneri painters. As a child, he began
training with his father , Moda Ram Swami, and grandfather, Mool Das Swami.Later
He studied under Vedpal Sharma ("Bannu") in Jaipur.
Mahaveer
swami has revived the best aspects of the sophisticated and refined Bikaneri
school of painting , but with a originality and brilliance unique among contemporary
miniaturists. His style is strongly
influenced by his studies of Mughal miniatures
, and his subject matter
is often drawn from life study of holy men and women. His remarkable, ethereal
colors are ground by hand from stones and minerals , and he works exclusively
on fine antique papers, many collected by his father for generations. Mahaveer
has been honored with the National award (conferred by the President
of India in 1987), and the Sanskriti Award (conferred by the Vice-President
of India in 1992).
"Words
fail to express the great sentiments of regards, gratitude and indebtedness
to one's teachers".They are like "Rishis" of the ancient
times who radiate their vast knowledge, wisdom , affection and parental love
on their disciples.
Mahaveer
Swami has exhibited in group shows in Mumbai , Calcutta , Delhi, Paris, Jerusalem
and Dubai, and has had a one-man exhibition at Bikaner House in Delhi.He is
also exhibits each winter at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, at the invitation of
H.H.Gaj Singh, Maharaj of Jodhpur. His paintings were featured in Natural History
Painting from Rajasthan, organized by the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
in Pittsburgh in 1994, and he demonstrated his technique both at exhibition
opening at Pittsburgh , and at the Smithsonian Institution's Sackler Gallery
in Washington, D.C. His painting were included in the 8th International Exhibition
of Botanical Art and Illustration organized by the Hunt Institute in 1995, and
have been published in The Garden of Life by Naveen Patnaik (Doubleday , New
York, 1993).
On Bikaner's 500th anniversary in 1992 , he was honored by the city for
his achievements in reviving traditional Bikaneri paintings. In 1999 , he received
the Smt. Janki Devi Somani Puruskar , Marudhara Sodh Sanstha in Calcutta, for
excellence in the field of miniature painting. He is currently completing a
commissioned book on Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur.
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