Lavanya Mani was born in the year 1977 and started her formal training in 1995 by enrolling in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda She later finished her Master of Fine Arts in the year 2001 from the same university In that same year, she also received her PhD from the Department of Art History and Aesthetics, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda 

 

Lavanya Mani’s sources of inspiration are rich and varied, ranging from the Kalamkari textile tradition to the Mughal miniature She incorporated elements and aspects of textile dyeing, printing, and embroidery in his work It’s interesting to note that the artist doesn’t come from a weavers family, henceforth exploring and understanding the craft technique requires dedication and commitment Some of her most interesting work can be witnessed when she uses these traditional techniques and bases the theme of her works on the colonial history of India and Victorian literature Apart from exploring the colonial history of India through her work she also tries to fight against the distinction placed between high art and craft by bringing them together in perfect sync

 

While interviewing ‘Platform Creative Lifestyle’, she mentioned that “I have also been particularly interested in correspondences between 'textiles' and 'text' and metaphors relating the two such as– 'to spin a yarn', 'to follow a thread of narrative', 'to embroider a tale', 'to weave a tale' 'to fabricate' and their link to the construction or the making of 'history', especially true in the context of 'discovering' the East”

 

She held her first ever solo show in 2009 titled ‘In Praise of Folly’ at Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai She has also participated in various group shows like ‘Destination Inde: Un Voyage Avec L’art Indien’, in Paris in 2006, ‘Insider’ in Bodhi, Mumbai in 2007, ‘Inner Vision’ at the Guild, New York, and the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art at Travancore Art Gallery organised ‘Urgent: 10 ml of Contemporary needed’, New Delhi in 2008, Bose Pacia, Kolkata, ‘Meandering Membranes’ at Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi and ‘Analytical Engine’ at Gallery Seven Art, New Delhi in 2009 and ‘Cynical Love: Life in the Everyday', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi in 2012 

 

She was granted a Junior research fellowship from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi from 2001 to 2003 In 2001 she won the Nasreen Mohamedi Award for Painting from MS University Baroda In the year 2006, she received the Kashi Award for Visual Art from the Kashi Art gallery, Kochi 

 

The artist lives and works in Baroda