Artist Statement

" As an artist, I have always held that a good drawing is the key element that holds a painting together. The two strong points in my work are my drawing and usage of colour. I use a wide range of different colours and tones in my paintings, sometimes vibrant and at other times more subdued. Colour is what gives my work dimension.

I would put myself in the category of a figurative painter. Coming from India, a place where the overwhelming presence of a sea of humanity is difficult to shake from memory. The human figure is often present in my work, sometimes as the underlying theme and at other times as dominating form.

Human behaviour is what fascinates me. The everyday life that we live, the different ways we interact with each other. I like to explore what it means to live in an urban environment and yet be dogged by past beliefs. How one social structure is different from another.

Symbolism is what my work strives towards – where a single leaf could convey nature in its totality."

artist contact:

artist@anjum.ca

Anjum Siddiqui
Anjum Siddiqui, who is originally from India, is a Toronto-based artist who has been painting for over two decades.

After attending The Lawrence School, Sanawar, she went on to study at the Delhi School of Art – a leading Art School in India, and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Applied Arts. Although she was working as a graphic designer and a visualiser, she always had a passion and a keen eye for the fine arts and has continued to paint in various mediums.

She has had the rare opportunity of working with and learning from one of India’s leading contemporary artists, M.F. Husain. Husain has been Anjum’s mentor and Guru since she was 12 and over the years. While working with him, she has come to understand the usage of colour, form, balance, and other painting techniques. She has the privilege of being his only pupil.

Anjum works in acrylic, watercolour, conté and charcoal. She has several Group Shows as well as a some solo shows to her credit.

Anjum travels frequently and visits India often for inspiration. Her works feature in private collections worldwide.

Selected Solo Shows

2010    MAY - ‘TEA ART’ - Emperor's Lounge, The Taj Hotel, 
            Mansingh Road, New Delhi. India

2010    Jan-Feb – ‘Ode to Tea’
            Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery, Toronto, Canada.

2008    October - ‘Tribes of India’
            Art Laureate Gallery, New Delhi. India

2008    Feb-March – ‘Life in Mumbai’
            Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery, Toronto, Canada.

Selected Group Shows

2010   'WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME’ - Salaam Balak Trust,
            Curated by - Dr. Alka Pande
            29-30 April 2010 - VISUAL ARTS GALLERY - Habitat Centre, New Delhi. India.
            13 May - 11 June 2010 - INDIGO BlUE ARTS - Singapore.

2009    Feb-March - Group Exhibition - ‘In the Beginning’.
            Art Laureate Gallery, New Delhi, India.

2009    August 14–28, Paper Planes - SAVAC Juried Members’ Exhibition
            VMAC Gallery, Toronto, ON. Canada.

2009   18-27 September - Fall Art Show 2009 -
            Ben Navaee Art Gallery, Toronto, ON. Canada.

2009    October - ‘Celebration’ - Art Laureate Gallery, New Delhi. India

2005    ‘Indian Art Unbound-II’ - Grand Hyatt, Dubai -
            curated by ‘Gallery Nitanjali’, New Delhi, India.

2004    ‘Indian Art Unbound-I’ - Mayfair, London, England.
            curated by ‘Gallery Nitanjali’, New Delhi, India.

1997    Group Show, Windsor Manor, Bangalore, India.
            curated by ‘Rashi Gallery of Contemporary Arts, New Delhi.

1996    Group Show Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, India.
            curated by ‘Rashi Gallery of Contemporary Arts, New Delhi.

1990    ‘Yuva Mahotsava’ (Youth Festival), New Delhi, India.- a juried show.