Umakant Tawde

Umakant Tawde works primarily with the concepts and figures associated with Buddhism. In his most recent works, he paints highly realistic depictions of the representatives of the Buddha themselves--the monks, typically children, showcased as joyful, animated and carefree. To Tawde, the Buddhist quest for self-awareness is the same as that of the creative process--it is only through play and exploration that one is able to understand the world, and consequently, oneself. Tawde’s colours are bright and cheerful--they are infused with the traditional red of the monks’ robes, but splashed with lighter tones and cooler shades. The uniqueness of Tawde’s work lies in his ability to take familiar figures and tropes, and reimagine them in an entirely unlikely way. As he invites us to see the spiritual calling in a different light, he articulates his own journey as an artist. Tawde has showcased his work at several solo and group showcases in India and abroad, and his work is a part of numerous private collections.