Soul Matters - Chandu Desai's photostream

Artist Biography:

Chandu Desai was born in Mumbai, India in 1936. He was the first to leave the country from his family when he moved to the United States in the early sixties. He attended Pharmacy School in Kansas City, Missouri and upon graduating, he moved his family to California (the Bay Area). Although Chandu has always had a passion for the arts, he supported his family by working in the healthcare and technology arenas. However, upon retiring, his interest in the arts was rekindled. Now he spends most of his time painting and learning to play the harmonium.

He has chosen to depict the rich heritage, culture and philosophies of Jainism in a unique way. Traditionally, temples, stone carvings, and canonical books have portrayed literal stories and figures of Jainism. Chandu, however, has chosen oil/acrylic paintings to explain principles of Jainism both through literal and symbolic forms. In viewing his art, he hopes individuals will appreciate the aesthetic and be inspired to go beyond the visual to learn more about Jainism. His family and other contemporary artists have been sources of inspiration.

He has exhibited some of his “Jain Collection” privately in Washington DC, New York and San Francisco thus far. Recently, two of his paintings have been used for the cover of Jain Digest and his works were featured in an article of Jain Spirit. Aside from Jain topics, Chandu often chooses to paint old-world subjects with a contemporary flare.