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'''Mahirwan Mamtani''' (* November 2, 1935 in [[Bhiria]] (Nawabshah) [[Sindh]], [[India]]) is painter, graphic and multimedia artist.
[[Image:Mahirwan Mamtani.JPG|thumb|150px|Mahirwan Mamtani]]
Mamtani grew up in India, studied there and moved 1966 to Germany, where he had been awarded a scholarship by  DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) to study painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Kunstakademie. Since that time he lives and works in and around Munich.

== Early Years ==
Already at the age of six in Sindh, Mahirwan Mamtani began to paint, mainly with charcoal and chalks on walls .  At the age of 12 ,due to the [[partition of India]], in 1947 the family moved to Delhi. Because of miserable living conditions as a refugee, lying on sick bed he taught himself without proper schooling.  He used to doodle with pencil or pastels on paper.  However circumstances forced Mamtani to earn money doing several jobs and his urge to paint was suppressed due to lack of time and money.  After some years of such conditions, loneliness and hard work at self-education, Mamtani besides his jobs started studying for Bachelor of Arts and then joined evening classes at the Fine Arts Department of Delhi College of Engineering(Delhi Polytechnic) to study painting.  He obtained the National Diploma in 1962.  In 1966 he was awarded a scholarship by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) to study painting at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts Munich under Prof. Franz Nage.  Since then he is living with his family in and around the Munich and Bavaria area.

==Career==
[[Image:Centrovision 168.jpg|thumb|300px|Centrovision 168]]
Already at the beginning of his studies, Mamtani was aware of Wassily Kandinsky, one of the groundbreakers of modernism, who had been searching for [[Spirituality|spiritual]] dimensions in art.  For Mamtani it can go as far back as William Blake in the 18th century or extend to a German contemporary like Joseph Beuys, who was influenced by the Anthroposophy teachings of Rudolf Steiner.

=== Quote ===
[[Image:Centrovision 1204.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Centrovision 1204]]

''The inspiration for Mahirwan Mamtani's conception of "Centrovision" is derived from the manifestation of tantric doctrines. Emanating from the centre toward the outside, his forms are akin to the Mandala concept, the visual manifestation of which are based on the axiom of Macrocosm and microcosm versus Macrocosm and microcosm. The feeling of procreation is evoked by the rhythmical arrangement of symmetrical, curvilinear organic forms, the roots of which could be traced in the form of the female, the symbol of Shakti, the supreme cosmic energy. Instead of having a flux of light, the paintings are permeated with the whispering tonal values achieved through the integration of colour hues with soft light which becomes the essential ingredient for the modulation of pulsating circular forms.Dr. L.P. Sihare, source: Neo-Tantra Exhibition Catalogue''

Some of his earlier multimedia projects were graphic animation films: CENTROVISION (1981) and FACES (1982). 
Starting in 1990 he built upon an idea from earlier (1985) works, where he had begun to let faces appear in some of his artwork. He performed dances wearing several mandala masks, which he had painted on wood, and recorded these dances in the form of photos and videos with the help of a self-timer.
He then painted over the surface of the resulting photo sheets with acrylic colours, creating a series of new mixed-media works of art which he called "Transmuted Fotos". During that time he also experimented with other mixed media.

From the year 2000 onwards, Mamtani created "Mandala Conscious Beings" where he focused on figurative paintings using mandala masks as central elements. This was driven by his urge to deal with human emotions (masks). His remarks were "We all are constantly wearing masks. We are changing the masks, but not removing them."

Around 2003, he also started working on earlier dance videos, recomposing them into new clips (some of them available on YouTube).

<youtube>b9MV8tnGNgk|450|259</youtube>

== Accomplishments ==
In India Mamtani is counted among the Neo-Tantra artists[4] Biren De, G.R. Santosh, K. C. S. Paniker, Sohan Qadri, Proffula Mohanti, Haridasan, Om Prakash Sharma, P.T. Reddy, Viswanathan. The group exhibited in several museums in Germany, USA and Australia.
In Europe, Mamtani belongs to a group of artists THE SPIRITUAL IN ART [5] – Domenico Caneschi, Italy – Pietro Gentili, Italy – Guy Harloff, France – Joerg Anton Schulthess, Switzerland – Nora Ullmann, Israel. This group was initiated in the 70s by Dr. Walter Schönenberger, the director of museum in Lugano, who organized several exhibitions in Locarno, Aarau, Milano and Bochum.

[[Image:Centrovision 1164.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Centrovision 1164 1990<br> 190x190 acrylic-wood-cutout]]

== Graphic Editions ==
* Edition modern art galerie, Berlin
* Bruckmann Verlag, München
* Kunstverein, München
* Galerie Toni Brechbühl, Grenchen
* Galerie Regio, Freiburg
* Galerie Becher, Wuppertal
* Edition Galerie Wassermann, München

== Awards among others ==
* 1976  Tokyo, 10th International Print Biennale
* 1978  New Delhi, National Award in Painting, [[Lalit Kala Akademi]]

== Literature ==
* Lalit Kala Akademie (1970). Contemporary 30 + 31 Art journal.
* Catalogue 30 JAHRE GALERIE TONI BRECHBUEHL Grenchen. Grenchen, Switzerland: GALERIE TONI BRECHBUEHL. 1970.
* Dr. Walter Schönenberger, ed. (1973). Catalogue SITUAZIONE SIMBOLO MILANO. Mailand: Edizioni Galleria San Fedele.
* Catalogue WELTANSCHAUUNG ALS BILDIDEE - GEMALTE WELTSCHAU. Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau (Switzerland) and Museum Bochum Kunstsammlung. 1975.
* Chaitanya, Krishna (1976). A history of Indian painting. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-310-8.
* Catalogue THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF PRINTS IN TOKYO. Tokyo/Kyoto: National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. 1976-1977.
* TANTRA, Philosophie und Bildidee Aspekte zeitgenoessischer indischer Kunst. Stuttgart: Institut_für_Auslandsbeziehungen. 1983.
* Pran Nath Mago (1985). CONTEMPORARY ART IN INDIA. National Book Trust, India. pp. 94–95. ISBN 81-237-3419-0.
* Jaykar, Pupul (1985). Festival of India in the United States, 1985-1986. New York: H.N. Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-0937-5.
* Dagmar Gräfin Bernstorff (1986). Deutschland - Porträt einer Nation. 10. Bertelsmann Lexikothek Verlag. p. 286. ISBN 3-570-08720-4.
* Dr.Edith A.Tonelli, UCL (1986). NEO-TANTRA exhibition catalogue. Los Angeles: UCL, Los Angeles. [6]
* Jutta Ströter-Bender, Helena. Spanjaard: Zeitgenössische Kunst der >Dritten Welt< : Äthiopien, Australien (Aboriginals), Indien, Indonesien, Jamaica, * Kenia, Nigeria, Senegal und Tanzania. DuMont Buchverlag, Köln 1991, ISBN 3-7701-2665-3, p. 172-174.
* Johanna Kerschner (Oktober 1992). Interview. München: Münchner Kultur-Magazin APPLAUS.
* Edda Bhattacharjee (1993). Catalogue INDISCHE GEGENWARTSKUNST/WSPÓLCZESNA SZTUKA HINDUSKA. Frankfurt am Main und Szczecin (Polen).
* Ströter-Bender, Jutta; Spanjaard, Helena (1995). L'art contemporain dans les pays du "Tiers monde": Australie (Aborigènes), Ethiopie, Inde, Indonésie, Jamaïque, Kenya, Nigéria, Sénégal et Tanzanie. L'Harmattan. ISBN 2-7384-3184-4.
* Dr. Georg Lechner, ed. (1995). Catalogue MY EAST IS YOUR WEST cross-cultural explorations in photography. New Delhi: Max Mueller Bhavan (Goethe-Institut).
* Hans Gedat, Wien (1997). LET IT BE - Edition Art Of Life. Wien.
* Catalogue SYMBOLISM & GEOMETRY IN INDIAN ART. New Delhi: National Gallery of Modern Art. 1998.
* Catalogue THE DUAL PATH OF INDIAN ART TODAY. München: Galerie Müller+Plate. 2003.
* Catalogue INDIA INSTITUTE 75TH ANNIVERSARY exhibition of paintings in collaboration with Galerie Müller+Plate. München: Sotheby´s. 2004.
* Sheth, Pratima (2006). Dictionary of Indian art artists : including technical art term. [Ahmedabad]: Mapin Pub.. ISBN 81-85822-90-5.

===Exhibitions (Selection of over 30 worldwide)===

* 1964  New Delhi AIFACS Gallery
* 1967  München, Galerie Stenzel
* 1967  Augsburg, Ecke Galerie
* 1967  Mainz, Galerie Winfried Gurlitt
* 1967  Zürich, Galerie La Fourmi´re
* 1970  Berlin, modern art galerie
* 1970  Grenchen, Galerie Toni Brechbühl
* 1971  Heilbronn, Galerie Rota
* 1972  München, Kunstverein
* 1972  Wuppertal, Schauspielhaus
* 1973  London, Commonwealth Art Gallery
* 1974  München, Art Galerie Schwabylon
* 1974  Wuppertal, Galerie Becher
* 1975  New Delhi, Gallery Chanakya
* 1976  Heilbronn, Galerie Lee Babel
* 1979  New Delhi, Gallery Chanakya
* 1985  München, Galerie Transart
* 1986  New Delhi, Dhoomimal Art Centre
* 1988  München, Galerie Rozmarin
* 1991  New Delhi, Dhoomimal Art Centre
* 1993  Hanau, Galerie Neunauge
* 1994  Zürich, Galerie Gerhard Zähringer
* 1995  New Delhi, LTG Art Gallery
* 1998  Landsberg, Stadttheater
* 2002  Hanau, Galerie Neunauge
* 2009  New Delhi, Dhoomimal Art Centre

=== Group Exhibitions (selection) ===
* 1968  München, Kunstverein
* 1969  München, Große Kunstausstellung [[Haus der Kunst]]
* 1970  Berlin, Frühjahrsmesse
* 1970  Basel, Internationale Kunstmesse Galerie Regio
* 1970  München, Große Kunstausstellung Haus der Kunst
* 1971  Basel, Mustermesse Galerie Brechbühl/modern art
* 1971  München, Große Kunstausstellung Haus der Kunst
* 1971  München, Kunstzone
* 1971  Köln, Kunstmarkt Galerie Brechbühl/Galerie Regio
* 1972  New Delhi, National Exhibition of Art Lalit Kala
* 1972  Basel, Art ´72 – Galerie Brechbühl/Galerie Regio
* 1972  München, Große Kunstausstellung Haus der Kunst
* 1972  München, Mandala in der zeitgenössischen Kunst
* 1972  Düsseldorf, Internationaler Markt für aktuelle Kunst
* 1973  New York, Young Artists ´73
* 1973  Locarno, Ipotesi per unarte simbolica
* 1973  Milano, Situazione Simbolo
* 1973  Düsseldorf, Internationaler Markt für aktuelle Kunst
* 1973  New Delhi, National Exhibition of Art Lalit Kala
* 1974  Segovia, Bienal Internacional de Obra Grafica Y ArteSeriado
* 1975  New Delhi, Third International Triennale - India
* 1975  Aarau, Kunsthalle - Weltanschauung als Bildidee-Weltschau
* 1976  Bochum, Museum – Weltanschauung als Bildidee <- Weltschau
* 1976  Tokyo, Museum of Modern Art, International Print Biennial
* 1976  Nürnberg,  Germanisches Nationalmuseum,Bild+Text
* 1977  Melbourne, Western Pacific Print Biennale
* 1977  Paris, Salon de Mai
* 1978  New Delhi, Fourth International Triennale-India
* 1978  Ljubljana, Moderna Galerija, International Art ´78
* 1978  Landau, Städtische Galerie
* 1979  Tolentino, Biennale Internazionale dell Umorismo nell´Arte
* 1980  Mannheim, Rosengarten, Surya Galerie
* 1982  Darmstadt, Kunsthalle
* 1982  Bergkamen, 6. bbb – Kunst zum Überleben
* 1982  Ibiza, X Bienal Internacional
* 1983  Stuttgart, Forum für Kulturaustausch
* 1983  München, BBK Galerie der Künstler, Aufführung des Films 'Centrovision'
* 1984  München, Große Kunstausstellung Haus der Kunst
* 1984  Düsseldorf, Kunstmuseum der Stadt Düsseldorf
* 1984  Wien, Kunsthaus, Bayerische Kunst Heute
* 1984  Hannover, Kubus an der Aegidienkirche
* 1984  Oberhausen, Kunstverein Oberhausen
* 1984  Bayreuth, Iwalewa-Haus Universität Bayreuth
* 1984  Tokyo, 15th International Art Biennale
* 1985  Ljubljana,  International Art Collection
* 1986  Los Angeles, Neo-Tantra Wight Art Gallery UCL
* 1986  New South Wales, Neo-Tantra-Art
* 1986  Frankfurt, Buchmesse – Zeitgenössische Malerei
* 1987  Warschau, Contemporary Indian Painting
* 1987  Moskau/Leningrad/Riga, Festival of India
* 1987  Tolentino, Biennale Internazionale dell Umorismo nell´Arte
* 1987  München, Transart Galerie, Stille Räume
* 1988  St. Gallen,  Stadttheater
* 1988  Neumarkt,  Steinmühle, Kunst für Lebensräume
* 1988  Perpignan/Frankreich, Biennale Internationale de l´Estampe
* 1991  Bad Kissingen, Galerie Hirnickel
* 1991  Köln, Die Weisse Galerie
* 1993  Tolentino, Biennale Internazionale dell Umorismo nell´Arte
* 1993  Mainz, Galerie Rathaus
* 1993  Stettin, Schloß der Pommerschen Fürsten
* 1995  Tolentino, Biennale Internazionale dell Umorismo nell´Arte
* 1995  New Delhi, Max Müller Bhavan
* 2003  München, Galerie Müller+Plate
* 2004  München, India Institute 75th Anniversary, at Sotheby´s
* 2004  New Delhi, NRI artists, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
* 2007  New Delhi/Kolkota, EARTH ON CANVAS – WWF-India
* 2007  Lamia Greece, Belle Arte Lamia ´07 – videoart
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==External links==
*[http://www.artmajeur.com/?go=user_pages/display_all&login=mahirwanmamtani Comprehensive web page about Mahirwan Mamtani]
*[http://www.kiefer.de/auktion_artikel_details.aspx?KatNr=4488&Auktion=69 Centrovision 72. Farbserigraphie auf schwarzgrundigem stärkerem Papier] 
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/Mamtani Video Creations at YouTube]
*[http://www.dhoomimalartcentre.com/artistworks.php?aid=34 Website of Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi showing six paintings]
*[http://www.sindhisahitsabha.com/photogallery.htm Sindhi Art, Mahirwan Mamtani receives Painting Award]
*[http://www.sindhology.org/sindhipersonalities_13.asp Short article at Sindhology.org]
*[http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=11155897 Artists' Bluebook]
*[http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/02/06/stories/2009020650160300.htm Newspaper Report about his Exhibition in 2009 at Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi ]
*[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=138991 Entry in British Museum's Database]
*[http://goaartgallery.com/mahirwan_mamtani.htm Goa Art Gallery Showing Three Small Samples]
*[http://www.indianartcollectors.com/view-details.php?arid=9784 Centrovision 727]
*[http://www.gelnhaeuser-tageblatt.de/lokales/kultur/8160340.htm http://www.gelnhaeuser-tageblatt.de/lokales/kultur/8160340.htm]
*[http://indianartscene.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-buzz-new-delhi-mahirwan-mamtani.html Invitation to an Exhibition at Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi with the German Ambassador ]
*[http://www.mahirwanmamtani.com/ Mamtani's Homepage]
*[http://ngmaindia.gov.in/collections-artist.asp?strLetter=M Entry of Collected Works at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; look for Mamtani,M.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/Mamtani Videos at YouTube]

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[[People#Paintings_.26_Sculpture|List of Painting & Sculpture Artists]]