AWARDS and HONORS
Jai Zharotia was born in New Delhi in 1945, in a humble craftsman family that lived life with simplicity. A self-driven struggle and sensitive nature pushed him towards literary and artistic pursuits. His evolution as an artist was a gradual process after he trained himself in the basics of paintings and acquired a Diploma in Art.
He joined the College of Art, New Delhi as a lecturer in Painting, in the year 1974. Then became Professor and head of the department, MFA in early 90’ and served College of Art, New Delhi, till 2005. He has held more than 35 One Man Shows and more than 300 group shows in National and International Arena since 1967.
An artist who trespasses established formal and aesthetic categories to deviate from the beaten path presents an emerging viewing experience. He walked the precarious edge between abstraction and figuration and defied the fixations and European Modernism. Jai Zharotia chases the poetic and fantastic realm in his art, drawing inspiration from miniatures and a few modern art movements.
He said, "For me, the medium is just a means and not an end in itself; for technique always follows vision. As every medium has its limitations, it is impossible to achieve every nuance I want in any one medium. I'm constantly exploring, searching for new ways to express my feelings. The delicacy of watercolors works very well for the ethereal forms and line details. In sculpture, one can bring out the solidity of form. In contrast, it is possible to combine the two as desired, and therefore I like to paint in oil or acrylic."
HONORS & AWARDS
o 1998: Senior Fellow in The field of visual Arts, Ministry of HRD Govt. of India.
o 1993: National Award, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
o 1987: For Ceramic, AIFACS, New Delhi.
o 1987: Drawing, AIFACS, New Delhi.
o 1985: For Drawing, All India Drawing, Chandigarh.
o 1984: For Silk Screen-Printing, Takhman, Rajasthan.
o 1983: For Silk Screen-Printing, AIFACS, New Delhi.
o 1981: For Graphics, All India Graphics, Chandigarh.
o 1980: For Lithographs, All India Graphics, Chandigarh.
o 1980: For Silk Screen Printing, Sahitya Kala Parishad.
o 1979: For Silk Screen Printing, Sahitya Kala Parishad.
o 1979: Print Making, Carol Summers
o 1970: Smithsonian Printmaking Workshop, Smithsonian Institute Washington DC
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
o 1995: Given by Utsav Educational & Cultural Society (Regd.) a lifetime contribution to Fine Arts. With Smt. Shubha Mudgal Shri Birju Maharaj, Rais Mirza etc.
o 2004: Priyadarshini Award, for outstanding Services, Achievements and Contribution
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006 ‘Alchemy of Change’, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1999 ‘Mirrors of Mind : Altering the World’, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai.
1998 Kumar Gallery, New Delhi.
1998 ‘Mirrors of Mind’, The British Council, New Delhi.
1997 ‘Mirrors of Mind’, ARKS Gallery, London.
1997 ‘Mystery’, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi.
1996 ‘Circus of Life’, Vedanta Fine Arts, Chicago.
1992 ‘Exhibition of Water Colors’, School’s Gallery, Amsterdam.
1990,91 ‘Exhibition of Water Colors’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1986 ‘Exhibition of Ceramics’, Akaar, Chandigarh.
1985 Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata.
1984,89 ‘Exhibition of Water Colors’, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai.
1983,87,91 ‘Exhibition of Water Colors’, Art Heritage, New Delhi.
1978,81 Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1975 ‘Exhibition of Drawings and Graphics’, Black Partridge, New Delhi.
1974 ‘Exhibition of Drawings’, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
1972 ‘Exhibition of Paintings’, Kunika Chemould Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1970,82 Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi .
SELECTED PARTICIPATIONS
2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', at Jahangir Art Gallery; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2010 'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
2010 'Celebration 2010', Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1996 6th Biennale of Contemporary Indian Art, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.
1995 ‘3rd International Prints Biennale’, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.
1993 ‘36th National Exhibition’, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
1989 ‘32nd National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
1988 ‘Festival of India’, Japan.
1988 ‘10th International Contemporary Art Exhibition’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS),
1987 ‘Festival of India’, USSR.
1986 ‘6th Triennale India’, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
1985 ‘Indian Print Today’, Bonn.
1985 ‘Annual Exhibition’, Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi.
1985 ‘2nd Asian Art Exhibition’, Fukuoka, Japan.
1984 ‘9th International Exhibition of Art’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi.
1984 ‘15th International Art Exhibition’, Japan.
1978 ‘4th International Triennale’, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi.
1978 ‘7th International Exhibition of Art’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi.
1969 ‘Annual Exhibition’, Delhi Shilpi Chakra, New Delhi.