Manu Parekh

Manu Parekh's work can be divided into three distinct phases ; one dealing with organic eroticism, another with the landscape of Banaras (Varanasi) and the third with violence. The phases overlap and recur constantly, his vocabulary is in a constant state of flux; thus one can see both decorative landscape in more or less Basohli style along with his abstract references to Banaras (Varanasi). The works associated with violence fluctuate between references to real incidents of terror and carnage and the metaphorical use of the animal face with a human expressiveness. The former, as epitomized in the "Bhagalpur Blindings" are graphic and bordered on the literal, while the latter, as seen in "Stilled lives (with details)" are more meditative, with the textural quality of old wall paint, with a liberal use of cement and distemper. The "Flower-portrait" series is replete with texture and full of colours. He lives and works in New Delhi along with his artist wife Madhvi Parekh.