By Anisha Menezes

Reflective and emotive, nurturing and strong- Gazala Chinwalla effortlessly captures the many facets of a woman. Thirteen untitled, mixed-media canvases encompass this Indian - American artist’s latest collection, a step on her continuing voyage of self discovery as a woman and artist. An accomplished business woman, ex-model, and designer Gazala brings her unique perspective to each piece.

“I love painting the female form - it is just so sensuous and beautiful. To me, a woman is such an enigma,” says the artist. While some pictures border on schizophrenic splits, embodying the battle between mind and heart, each one is marked by piercing eyes and contemplation. Sight is an important motif in the works not only as vision but also as reflection. “I want to let my subjects tell a story - of the places they’ve been, things they’ve seen - of their journeys as women.” Gazala recounts.

Warm ochers, summery peaches and cool turquoises dominate the colored frames, a continuation of a similar collection- ‘Shifting Juxtapositions’, exhibited in Mumbai, India earlier this year. Most of the other canvases are dominated by deep browns and slate grays, mirroring the wan countenances of their subjects.

Gazala’s work is strongly influenced by Picasso and the impressionist school in technique and while her Indian roots account for content. “I am from a family of five sisters, and have two daughters myself and a grandchild now. Almost unconsciously I have added a babe in arms to many canvases, and the warmth that many of my protagonists exude comes from being mothers,” she adds.

Windows, lattices and mirrors are present in almost all the artist’s works,“something I picked up as I have a fascination for stained glass windows in European churches.”

Roaming the wild acres of memory, she dots her canvases with delicate, ethnic patterns on carefully - crafted garments, a throwback to her work with Oscar de la Renta. “ I have worn so many hats through my life, that my brush almost automatically picks up these tangled threads of my memory and weaves a pattern on its own, that is a reflection of my journey and my message.” says Gazala.

The show continues at CAN’s (Contemporary Arts Network) gallery, The New Arts Center, New York, through Sept 29th, 2009.

Gazala Chinwalla: Gazala Chinwalla wears many hats with aplomb. Born in Mumbai, India, she has straddled the fashion, corporate and art worlds with great chutzpah. She was the face of the prestigious Bombay Dyeing campaign in India. In New York, Gazala enrolled in the Parsons School of Design and The School of Visual Arts in their Continuing ED programs, where she studied the works of the Twentieth Century Western Impressionist's and Contemporary Masters.

Her first foray into the Indian Art scene was in 2005, when Gazala organized a major charity event in Mumbai to raise money for children affected by HIV/AIDS. She has since then had 7 solos and 5 group exhibitions, and is fast gaining her reputation by rendering contemporary images in oil and mixed media on canvas.

About the reviewer: NJ based freelance writer and critic Anisha Menezes nee Rasquinha's love for art and writing landed her the post of art critic for The Times of India's Sunday Times section. Beyond critiquing art, the paper's 'Lead India' campaign, an initiative to find good citizen representatives to government, gave Anisha the opportunity to meet and interview prominent playwrights, artists, film makers and historians of the day including a seminal interview with Jnanpeeth awardee Girish Karnad.