BIO
Born in India in 1971, and residing in New Zealand since 1998, to Rasa Manjari, painting is an attempt to transcendental connection and hence overlaps with her spiritual practise. In her figurative works, she expresses a narrative of love and it’s moods, of messages from sacred texts as they appear to her through her Art practise. Rasa Manjari has been a practising artist since 1996, and has been known as Rewa Walia.
Black colour often featured in the Artist’s works, is a language of space before creation; a theme inspired by the losing knowledge of Vedic texts. The Artist draws references to the human body at the time of change; of interruption.
In her ongoing series, the Artist’s paintings have a poetic quality; inspired by the immaculate presentation of sacred, amorous love by poet Vidyapati, and by the pastimes of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, shared by spiritual teachers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Vidyapati is one such teacher of love, who left behind a legacy of transcendent poems, which have been translated over time by many scholars. His identity as a devotee of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in the form of a Manjari (maidservant) is not known to many. This has been handed down to the Artist by her spiritual master as a seed, to understand divine love and to make progress in her spiritual path. The Artist has been through unsettling moments of transformation, exhaustion and the danger of losing her identity, in her quest for balancing her expression of art and spiritual practise. The poetic works of Vidyapati have given her the platform to safely unfold her own expressions as acts performed in the sense of servitude to God.
In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, to enter into the subject of amorous love, one needs proper qualification. All ancient scriptures traditionally begin by defining specific parameters of eligibility for prospective readers. So care must be taken in depicting divine sacred love. Study of ancient literatures under the guidance of spiritually elevated teachers gives one correct authority to be competent and to grasp the real essence or internal significance of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna’s divine love pastimes. However, we live in an age that can contribute to information overload and a constant state of stimulation, making it challenging to find time for focused contemplation. This has seen an overflow of varieties of visuals of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna in recent times leading to a more superficial understanding, and missing the divine aspect of pure love, and the teachings of devotion through service.
Apart from her ongoing series of figurative paintings, the Artist expresses concern for sacred images losing their authenticity, in the age of AI generated images. The artist, reflects on this losing knowledge from sacred texts, especially the pastimes of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna that have been depicted in misleading ways. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, painting or representing the archa-vigraha (Deity form of the Lord) is significant because it allows devotees to engage in worship and develop a personal relationship with the Divine. In the past, people generally went to the temples to pray, but in the current age of easy access to imagery from the internet, people have photographs or paintings of God’s they believe in, right at their homes. The Deity form is a tangible manifestation of the Supreme Being, enabling devotees to connect with the Lord through visual representation and devotional service. Maintaining authenticity in visuals of our cultural heritage is crucial for the country’s national identity, and cultural continuity.
CV
Rasa Manjari ( Rewa Walia )
Born in 1971 in Mumbai, India
Resides and works in Christchurch, New Zealand
Education:
2011: Certificate in Applied film making, NZ Film Academy, Auckland, New Zealand.
2003: Diploma of Creative Advertising Media Design School, Auckland, New Zealand.
1992: Bachelor of Fine Arts Sir J.J Inst. of Applied Arts, Mumbai, India.
Projects:
2019 - 2020: Rewa Gallery: Studio / Gallery space, Auckland, New Zealand
Selected Solo exhibitions:
2020: Rewa Gallery, “Red” Performance, Installation, Video, Auckland, New Zealand
2019: Rewa Gallery, “Transcendental doodles” Paintings, Auckland, New Zealand
2019: Rewa Gallery, “I can be someone else” Paintings, Video, Installation, Auckland, New Zealand
2018: Healing hills art space, “ I’m not this body” Performance Morni Hills, India
2018: Healing hills art space, “Abducted, site specific Performance” Morni Hills, India
2013: Queenstown lakes district council. “After the earth shook” Paintings Queenstown, New Zealand
2012: "Shiv sangam" A performance on cultural unity, funded by Auckland council, Creative communities scheme. Auckland, New Zealand
2009: Pop up show, “Joker series" Auckland, New Zealand
1996: “Faces” Mumbai, India
Selected Group exhibitions:
2010: "Joker series" Indian International Contemporary Art. “Parampara” Delhi, India
2010: “Mere sapno ka school” Independent Art Film, The Museum Gallery, Mumbai. India
2011: “Being Kiwi”, The Small packages, Auckland, New Zealand
2011: “Mere Sapno ka school” Independent Art Film, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, India
2011: Fundraising for Warkworth Welsford Hospice , Auckland, New Zealand
2011: “The Mind “ , How diversity works , Artstation, Auckland, New Zealand
2013: “Joker series” Habitat centre, New Delhi, India
2013: “Canvas of India” The State Art Gallery, Hyderabad, India.
2014: Vienna Showcase , Palais Schönborn, Vienna
2014: Fire arts centre of Chicago, USA
2014: 1st Italian Biennale of creativity , Verona, Palaexpo.
2014: “The Power of Perception” Creative Concept Inc, New York
2016: “Global Art Expose’, Kalanirvana, Hyderabad, India
2016: “Shiva Shakti’, Jehangir Art Gallery, India
2017: Biennale, New digital art biennale. A pavilion of The Wrong
2023: “What are you looking at? Vol 3. Linwood Arts centre, Christchurch, New Zealand
Selected Residencies:
2014: International Art Residency, Konya, Turkey
2014: Ostraka International Art residency, Egypt
2014: 3rd Kiar Redidency, Bhubaneswar, India
2013: Press club of Odisha , Bhubaneswar, India
Selected press:
2010: The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/intl-works-of-art-find-place-in-city-exhibitions/articleshow/7165323.cms
2014: I.C.A Publishing , International Contemporary Artists volume six, New York
2015: I.C.A Publishing, International Contemporary Artists volume seven, New York
2016: Indian News Link, New Zealand
https://indiannewslink.co.nz/artistic-combination-creates-a-unique-spectacle/
2017: “RNZ” Radio New Zealand Interview, Auckland New Zealand
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/search?q=rewa+walia&search_model=Audio&commit=Search
2017: “Abducted show” Press release, New Zealand
https://makelemonade.nz/2017/12/12/abducted-art-show-auckland-kiwi-icons-merged/
2018: https://www.moutonnoir.com/2018/03/un-artiste-rimouskois-en-inde/
Professional contributions / art-related:
2011 - "I See" - Short film, Direction, New Zealand
2013: Admin for Curator, “Global Art Expose’, Kalanirvana, Hyderabad, India
2015: Gallery Assistant / Intern: FHE Galleries, Auckland New Zealand
2015: Gallery Assistant/ Volunteer, Depot Artspace Auckland New Zealand
2016: Assisting Curator, “Global Art Expose’, Kalanirvana, Hyderabad, India
2016: Online Art Magazine Editor (Internship), India