CURRENT MISSION

To live a fuller and larger life and to enjoy life to the lees.

ABOUT ME

I am an artist, writer and an activist administrator and presently Principal Secretary, with Government of Rajasthan(INDIA). I was a Mason Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 2005-06. After joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1985 I held various distinguished assignments in the Government of India, Kerala & Rajasthan. My concerns and sensitivity to various contemporary issues have been expressed regularly in writing in many national/ international newspapers/journals.

It is however through the brush & paint that my creativity and sensitivity finds best illustration and expression. My works very reflect not only my conviction and clarity on issues relating to women, children, poverty, development, environment but also my keen sense of observation, humility and above all an abounding faith in god and service to humanity and mankind. From sketches, pen & ink works to mixed media I have tried various art forms both traditional and modern. Creativity with colors and experimentation has given my work both depth and impact appreciated by many. Various assignments have provided me opportunities to travel and also to stay with amidst nature as diverse as the rain drenched tropical forests and beaches of Kerala and the scrublands and the desert of Rajasthan and this is expressed in my landscapes in oil, stained glass, knife painting, water colors & also mixed media. The iconic influence of the spirituality and mythology of surroundings is all there in many of my paintings in the Tanjore style.

I have also been closely associated with well known artists & masters which have motivated me towards best etchings, wood cuts, linocuts, lithography & calligraphies. My works have been exhibited at different national/international events. Of late I have produced a series of more than three dozen works titled the 'Harmony' reflecting various forms of the relationships between man & his environment. My works have been exhibited at different national/international events more recently at New York, Cambridge, Syracuse, Toronto, Chicago, London, Iran and Srilanka. I was also a visiting artist at the East West Centre, Hawaii.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe that man’s soul is the architect of history and that art is the manifestation of man’s soul & reflection of human identity and art materialized the deepest strata of man’s life. No art can fully express the hidden reality it is depicting and one must search beyond the lines, patterns, notes etc. Art is unbounded and recognizes no constraints.

In modern era, art is playing a dominant role in bringing about social change transcending borders and minds. Art as such is the domain of the dialogue between civilizations and cultures; it can speak in loud and penetrating voice. Therefore, the pivot of dialogue is the society’s artists and thinkers. The language of painting and many arts is expressive indeed by which an immediate relationship is established. Artists show us new ways to see familiar things, and how to interpret new situations and events through various kinds of visual shorthand. Art is most often seen as pleasing the eye- creating beauty. Yet the idea of beauty, like that of truth, has been most challenging in the present day era. If something moves you to an understanding somehow unreachable for you by the common paths of words and reason, it's Art for you. Art is a process, a dialog, not a cause-and-effect like many people seem to think. Art is not for the sake of anything…. Rather it is not a means to achieve something but each art work in its own right depicts the image of the soul of artists and society at large.

To pave the ground for the artist to be able to work freely and spontaneously is need of the hour. The greatest achievement of art is to extend and expand our shared common visual language. I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream. My aim is to share Indian art across the borders and to pick up and recognize the commonalities in human beings transcending barriers of religion, language, culture, food habits but sharing and experiencing the same emotions and aspirations.

For me the truth rings in words of Paul Klee, “A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller’.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It is a great site bringing people together.

Interests

Painting, Travelling, Reading, Cooking, Shopping

• arts
• culture
• humanities
• writing
• performing arts
• architecture
• contemporary art
• illustrations
• coloring
• beauty
• festivals
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• clubbing
• crafts
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• survival
• camping
• agriculture
• communications
• history
• religion
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Fiction & travel books
Thriller movies

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Recent Event: Art Exhibit- “Desert Symphony”
An exhibit of artworks of Kiran Soni Gupta
at Nehru Centre, Worli Mumbai
15th-21st May 2012 ( Daily from 10am to 7pm)

Phone: 9414129333
Email:kiran.soni.gupta@gmail.com
Visit us at: www.kiransoniarts.com

Awards

2010 Kala Smridhi Award
2009 Centrum Art Residency Port Townsend WA
2009 Artist of the Year Award
2009 Achiever of the Year Award on Women’s Day
2008 Kala Shiromani Award,Jodhpur
2007 Valpraiso Fellowship at Mojacar, Spain
2006 J K Galbraith Fellowship, Harvard University
2005 Ray Vernon Fellowship, Harvard University
2004 National Award for the painting on “MATTERS OF HEART” in 63rd All India Art Exhibition, Hyderabad
2003 National Award for the painting on “FAMINE” in the AIFACS Platinum Jubilee All India
Art Exhibition
2002 Best Performance Award given by National Bank Agriculture and Rural Development as Chairman of the Cooperative Bank
2001 Award for Integrity & Public Service given by Canadian Cultural Organization as District Collector & Magistrate, Ganganagar
1999-00 National Productivity Award for best performance as M.D. of the Agricultural Marketing Federation
1998-99 National Productivity Award for best performance as M.D. of the Agricultural Marketing Federation

My most recent Exhibition:
The Colors of India at Kala Academy 15th-18th Sept 2011

" Desert Symphony" at the National Museum New Delhi in April 2011

"Desert Strokes" at Hotel Taj Palace Jan 2011
An exhibit of artworks of Kiran Soni Gupta

Solo Shows:

1.Desert Strokes at Hotel Taj Palace New Delhi 2011
2. Desert Symphony at CCRT Sep- Oct 2010
3 Celebration of Life at Rajputana Sheraton Jaipur 21st Jan to 31st Jan 1010
4 The Great Indian Desert at Chitramayee State Gallery of Fine Arts, Hyderabad 2009
5.Incredible India: Life in Color at Fort Worden, Port Townsend WA 2009
6.Incredible India: Life in Color at Rothwell Gallery Ottawa 2009
7.“Desert Symphony”- Cottage Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008
8 “Beyond Strokes’ 16th Solo Show at International Roerich Memorial Trust, Nagger, Himachal Pradesh 2008
9.“Incredible India: Life in Color California, LA 2008
10. Incredible India: Life in Color Cambridge, Boston 2008
11.India: Life in Color, Hotel Hilton, New York 2006
12. India: Life in Color, Harvard Arts Festival 2006
13. ‘The Colors of India’ at Cambridge Center, Harvard Square 2006
14. The Colors of India at Taj Convention Center, Mississauga Canada 2005
15. The Colors of India at Syracuse, New York 2005
16. The Colors of India at Trinity Hospital, Mouline USA 2005
17. “ The Colors of India” at the Nehru Centre, London 2004
18. ” The Desert Symphony” at Sutlej Club, Ludhiana 2004
19. Solo Exhibition at Welcom Art Gallery, Chola Sheraton, Chennai 2003
20. Solo Exhibition at Elahe Art Gallery, Tehran 2003
21. Solo Exhibition at Welcom Art Gallery, Windsor Manor, Bangalore 2003
22. Solo Exhibition at Nell Dorr Art Gallery, Malsisar, 2003
23. Solo Exhibition on “ The Indian Desert” at Alliance Françoise, Kandy, Srilanka June 2003
24. Solo Exhibition at Taj Hotel, Mumbai, 25th & 26th November 2002

Group Shows:

1. 14th Kala Mela, JKK Jaipur 2011
2. 4th International Friendship Art Exhibition, Dhaka 2010
3. Stree- III All India Art Exhibition of Women Artists, Art Mall New Delhi 2010
4. Art Exhibition of Women Artists, Kalaneri Gallery, Jaipur 2010
5. ArtFest at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur 2010
6. Shristi Art Group at Jawahar Kala Kendra Jaipur 2009
7. Tirangaa- Group Show at President House , New Delhi 2008
8. Srishti”- a Group show at Town Hall, Jodhpur 2008
9. Srishti”- a Group show at Town Hall, Mt Abu Sirohi 2008
10. Crafts Bazaar, Cultural Survival, Boslton Convention Center 2006
11. Medford Arts Festival, US 2005
12. Somerville Crafts Fair MA 2005
13. Crafts Bazaar, Cultural Survival, Boston 2005
14. Painted faces of A Christopher and army Capt. Orlando A Bonilla for the exhibition, 2005
15. “To Never Forget- Faces of the Fallen”, at Lowe Art Gallery, Syracuse University. 2005
16. The Appreciation Show, Pittsburgh US 2004
17. Art Exhibition at Convention Centre, Canada 2004
18. Group show, “ Monkeys- Myths & representations” East West Gallery, Hawaii 2004
19. ‘Just A Taste” International Group Show at Monarch Sculpture Park, Washington, US 2004
20. Group show, “Shrishti” by Masters of Traditional art, Lalgarh Palace, Bikaner. 2004
21. International Art Show at Hamilton Canada 2004
22. 76th All India Art Exhibition, AIFACS, New Delhi 2004
23. 63rd All India Art Exhibition, Hyderabad Art Society 2004
24. 2nd All India Art Exhibition of WISDOM at Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi 2003
25. Group show of the Bikaner Creative Artist Group at AIFACS Gallery, New Delhi, Aug 2003.
26. Artist’s Camp org. by Bikaner Creative Artist Group in celebration of ARTIST’S DAY 2003
27. India Senior Artists Camp (AIFACS), Kala Kumbh 2003, Bikaner 9 to 15th March, 2003
28. All India Exhibition of AIFACS, March 2003.
29. Exhibition at Artist’s Camp of AIFACS in celebration of ARTIST”S DAY 28th April 2003
30. All AIFACS Gallery, New Delhi 9 to 21 January, 2003
31. Group shows organized by Shree Shakti at Habiart, New Delhi 2001.
32. All India Artist’s camp at , Sikar, 1999.
33. All India Exhibition, AIFACS, 1995.
34. Lalit Kala Academy’s Group show 1992.
35. All India Exhibition of Art 1990.
36. A.I.F.A.C.S. Art Gallery, New Delhi 1990.
37. Artist’s camp, WZCC, Udaipur 1989.
38. Art Festival, Jaipur 1989.
39. Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 1989
40. Kerala State Lalit Kala Academy 1987

41.

Residencies and Workshops:

1. Valpraiso Fellowship 2011
2. Centrum Art Residency US 2009
3. Workshops at Fort Worden, Port Townsend 2009
4. Artist in Residence a the East West Centre Hawaii April 2005
5. Workshop at the KCC College, Hawaii 2005
6. Presentation on “ Contemporary Art In India” at Alliance Françoise, Kandy, Srilanka June 2003
7. Organized workshop on “The Art of Tanjore Paintings” with SZCC 1994

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to teach ethnic art of India and to learn as well.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, United States

•