Profile

What intensifies such a loss is the fact that Arnawaz was born into a Parsi family in Madras in 1945. Her interest in art was recognised by a family friend who helped her to join the School of Arts and Crafts in the city in 1962. She received encouragement and support from her teachers, K.C.S. Paniker, L. Munuswamy and A.P. Santhana Raj. As a student she took great interest in organising a variety of art activities. It was at the School that she met Vasudev. After they got married in 1971 she joined him in the Cholamandal Artists’ Village, where she continued with her organising activities.

Arnawaz participated in several important group exhibitions, such as the national exhibitions organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. She held solo shows in New Delhi, Ottawa and Toronto (Canada). She travelled widely both within the country and overseas. She was invited to participate in a programme of the World Crafts Council in Japan so that she could demonstrate her sheet metal work there.

Arnawaz worked in different mediums: drawing (pen and ink), painting (oils), graphics, sheet metal work (copper), batik and ceramics. She executed larger murals in copper for Standard Chartered Bank and Grindlays Bank in Madras.

Arnawaz passed away in 1988, leaving behind her husband, Vasudev, and her son, Bharani.

The Arnawaz Vasudev Charities was set up in her memory in 1989.