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
BIO
Born in India in 1971, and residing in New Zealand since 1998, Rasa explores cultural personas, addressing the needs of diverse groups when it comes to spirituality, preventing exclusion. Her Art is rich in story telling, creating meaning from the love poems of 14th Century poet Vidyapati about divine love, and makes some relation with her own hybrid identity, and in doing so makes her art about diversity in understanding divine Love. Her Art proposes our relationship with the spiritual, with self, with past and contemporary visual narratives.
The Artist references works from Art history to draw connections between the past and present, and to create hybridity. The artist's work blends classical Western figurative art with Vedic storytelling, creating a unique artistic expression that fosters a sense of shared visual language. This fusion aims to bridge cultural divides by presenting familiar figurative forms alongside narratives from Vedic traditions, encouraging a broader understanding and appreciation of visual communication. By combining these seemingly disparate elements, the artist seeks to create a bridge between Western and Eastern visual cultures, inviting viewers to find common ground in the language of art.
She investigates what future narratives will hold society together.
Rasa, previously known as Rewa Walia received her B.F.A Degree in Fine Art from Sir J.J Institue of Art, India, in 1992. Recent solo exhibitions include, “Red” and “I can be someone else,” both of which she curated herself for her studio / gallery in Auckland, New Zealand. She was the first New Zealand artist to be selected for the world’s then biggest online Biennale, New digital art biennale. A pavilion of The Wrong in 2017.