241:, a foreigner managed to find the exhibition and see the work. Patel then a few days later, got approached by him from a phone call, asking him if he could see more of his work as he was intrigued. Thakor described himself as being nervous as he couldn't speak and understand much English and interacting with an American wouldn't be easy. Also, he lived in a small house where it would've been difficult to bring an American to, so he decided to bring his paintings to his office and show his work there instead. The man adored his paintings and wanted to even purchase one, however he mentioned that he didn't have any money with him but he would pay him abroad from America. Nevertheless, Thakor replied by saying- “I did not ask you for money-if you hang the painting in your bedroom, dining room, kitchen, I will be very happy.” In fact, all Thakor ended up asking for was three tubes of oil colours - vermilion, ultramarine, and lemon yellow. The man then sent two big boxes of paint, one for Thakor and one for his neighbour, who also painted alongside him. At the time, Thakor hadn't managed to get a one-man show, he only managed to get into group shows, and after about six months after, the American man reappeared in India while Thakor was still working in textiles, he invited Thakor to America, and he sent him a ticket. Thakor then went to
270:
189:. Patel was one of the 25 people who had a chance in the admissions to have a chance in getting into the school and Thakor was chosen as one out of three. Challenges were ahead for him though as they pointed out that he would be unable to paint wall murals due to his disability. However, Thakor proclaimed that he used to play cricket and had no problem climbing a tree to paint murals that were on the wall. This persistence and dedication helped him to stay and succeed at the art school for 5 years, where he passed first-class and then he was awarded a scholarship and a fellowship as he was teaching Fine Art to 5th year diploma students. He also gained a first class in Commercial Art.
308:, where he met Carol Wales-Smith, who gave him an opportunity to display some of his work. Still, there was not much success and it wasn't a popular part of the exhibition, because his work was dark and included skulls. This was unpopular as there was a war that took place recently, and people didn't enjoy being reminded after this by looking at his work. Thakor defended this by claiming where he grew up, much violence had occurred and people were ruthless, this he had to express and not keep inside him, even though it may be negative.
177:, (who incidentally also became a well-known artist) who asked him if he wanted to study art. He hesitated at first, because of his disability. Even teachers would be involved in the action mentioning that because he was handicapped, he would never become an artist who could remotely succeed, never mind make a living from it. He also recalls him not being good in school in (in particular art) where he claims he was "lame" and had a lack of skill. Patel chose to ignore them and swore that he would one day become a successful painter.
214:
278:
80:
298:
210:, where for a month he worked there for, but it was not easy or practical, as Calcutta is a busy place so for Thakor travelling with a missing leg wasn't accessible. He wasn't forced though as he described his boss as being kind, and let him train in Bombay for three months instead. The daughter of Mr Mahante (his boss) was also handicapped meaning he understood the difficulties that Mr. Patel was facing, resulting in him being in Bombay for two years after.
88:
181:
He ended up becoming a teacher later on nevertheless and succeeded in doing so. Thakor's personal skills took a step up, as he began to sketch more, do more figurative work and started to draw more of nature. Thakor states "I was attached to nature because I used to play music. I was very attached to the night, to the moonlight. It speaks to me." Patel then studied for two years in
Ahmedabad until his friend proclaimed that he could now go the
25:
332:
across the world visiting many museums and galleries seeing much work which inspired him to do more paintings. He doesn't know if he would have been more successful, living in other countries like
America or India, but definitely says his style would be dramatically different; and he was strongly advised to stay in America.
331:
His inspiration grew in
Zimbabwe, the birds, trees, wildlife and the people, the culture. It all changed the perspective of Thakor and what he would paint and draw. He says he got inspiration from everything, cracks in floor tiles and he would try to implement it in his work somehow. Thakor travelled
228:
Thakor now working in a textile business, would do much work where they would export products and Patel would draw alluring and appealing patterns and designs with colour, that foreigners would travel far from France, Britain, America and Japan. Thakor's routine was simple: exhibit, leave, work, and
224:
pieces, was pivotal to adding beautiful textures that added diversity in his paintings. His objective was to create a broken brick texture which Thakor saw after finishing class. Immediately, he started to experiment with a toothbrush to try and replicate what he saw before in the broken bricks, but
180:
One of his teachers suggested that he pursue being an art teacher, and he desperately needed money, so he tried to do so. Yet, as he was at the interview he was questioned due to him being handicapped they claimed students might laugh and it would be too difficult to work in that sort of atmosphere.
335:
Thakor enjoyed living in
Zimbabwe for 35+ years, exhibiting and enjoying his life there, in Harare. His works varied from large oil paintings, to smaller watercolour paintings, and more recently small fine liner drawings, which are still popular with friends he has gained over the years. He and his
293:
by himself in 1980, initially only planning on staying for a year, maybe even two, but eventually coming to the realization that he quite liked it there. This love for Africa may have been passed down to him from his father, who used to live there and regularly mentioned how much he cherished it.
197:
Working for an advertising agency was not for him as he claims there were many complications and he was not allowed to show his full creativity and colour work he wanted to do. Thakor says he was sick of being told "no, no, no." So he made his mind up and pursued Fine Art instead. He read in a
233:
and his friend Jerald Jaksin who would tell him "Thakor, come on. We will go for a landscape.” It could be 2 o’clock at night and they would still go to
Nullaber Hill, where they would sit and paint beautiful paintings of the Bombay moonlight.
311:
Things changed for Patel though, as one day instead of walking down Moffat Road, asking small shops to sell his small drawings for 50 cents, being rejected, and seen as a beggar looking for cheap money, he walked down Manica Road and saw
145:. Alongside these galleries, he has exhibited his work in many other countries such as Japan, U.S.A, Germany and India. He moved to the United States of America in 2017. His paintings may be found in the permanent collection of the
379:
Annual
Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition. Special mention in recognition of an artist who has made significant individual contribution towards pinnacles of excellence in contemporary Zimbabwean painting.
202:. He applied for the job, despite the fact he knew nothing of textiles and he got the job, out of 25 other people who signed up. Questions were asked he would travel anywhere in
382:
1989, Zimbabwe
Heritage Exhibition – National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Award of Merit (oil) works selected for Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition in Auckland, New Zealand during the
225:
with several other, more vibrant colours. It took many attempts, however he managed to perfect his technique and now it plays a meaningful part in his paintings.
35:
321:
285:
Upon returning to India and living there with his family, he was approached by a relative who pondered if he would like to help him run a print shop in
313:
126:
46:
390:
328:, Helen and Henry Thompson, and after getting to know the gallery and the people, he gained the interest to now stay there permanently.
585:
580:
173:. He dreamed of being a musician, but could not find any opportunities to take lessons. Eventually, he was approached by a friend,
595:
353:
182:
245:, where exhibited much work in galleries where he sold a fair amount as well. He managed to do six shows, his first-ever
64:
269:
110:, where he passed first-class and was awarded a scholarship and a fellowship whilst also gaining a first class in
590:
376:
305:
146:
130:
600:
206:, and Thakor replied with a resounding "Yes, I will Madame I can travel anywhere." He was first sent to
605:
39:
that states a
Knowledge editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
575:
107:
340:, where he is still preparing for two exhibitions later this year, which have been postponed.
570:
304:
During his time in Harare he began to explore and visit art galleries, such as the notable
8:
125:, where he resided for most of his life. He exhibited work in several galleries such as
383:
360:
230:
42:
258:
389:
1991, Zimbabwe
Heritage Exhibition, National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Awards of Merit.
246:
99:
469:
213:
277:
199:
111:
79:
564:
297:
254:
242:
325:
317:
142:
221:
174:
134:
149:
and in other public and private art collections all around the world.
87:
238:
170:
138:
539:
416:
490:
286:
118:
273:
Thakor Patel exhibition (1989) at The
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
169:
until the age of 12 where he then transferred to an art school in
337:
207:
166:
158:
290:
250:
198:
newspaper that a big government department was searching for a
186:
122:
103:
372:
1969, annual prize of the Davangree Youth Cultural Association
444:
203:
162:
521:
369:
1966, founding member of We Four group exhibition, Bangalore
83:
Photo of Thakor Patel, taken by Fabian Kaufmann Harare 2014
36:
personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
316:, where he instantly felt like he belonged there. He met
366:
1959, fellowship of the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay
121:
in 1980 to help his cousin set up a print factory in
229:
paint at home. In his personal time he was painting
349:1956, traveling scholarship, Art Society of India.
445:"Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa"
562:
393:, Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Visual Arts.
220:A technique that Thakor has used in many of his
114:and exhibiting in a number of local shows.
237:When Thakor was exhibiting his artwork in
98:(born 1932) is an Indian-born Zimbabwean
65:Learn how and when to remove this message
391:Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
296:
276:
268:
212:
152:
86:
78:
519:
281:Thakor with Installation- "My last leg"
16:Indian-born Zimbabwean artist (b. 1932)
563:
165:. Thakor went to his local school in
515:
513:
511:
439:
437:
411:
409:
407:
18:
520:Gallery, Delta (3 September 2020).
13:
14:
617:
508:
483:
434:
404:
586:21st-century Zimbabwean painters
581:20th-century Zimbabwean painters
23:
359:1957–1958, annual award of the
352:1957–1958, annual award of the
532:
491:"Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai"
462:
1:
397:
343:
336:family now currently live in
596:Indian emigrants to Zimbabwe
377:National Gallery of Zimbabwe
306:National Gallery of Zimbabwe
147:National Gallery of Zimbabwe
131:National Gallery of Zimbabwe
7:
264:
133:, and more recently in the
102:. Patel studied art in the
10:
622:
544:www.nationalgallery.co.zw
421:www.nationalgallery.co.zw
289:. He agreed and moved to
192:
495:www.sirjjschoolofart.in
157:He was born in 1932 in
354:Sir J.J. School of Art
301:
282:
274:
217:
92:
84:
45:by rewriting it in an
300:
280:
272:
216:
183:Sir J.J School of Art
153:Early life and school
108:Sir J.J School of Art
91:Thakor Patel drawing
90:
82:
591:Artists from Gujarat
249:, in areas such as
100:contemporary artist
601:Indian printmakers
384:Commonwealth Games
361:Bombay Art Society
322:Babette Fitzgerald
302:
283:
275:
261:, Texas, in 1970.
218:
93:
85:
47:encyclopedic style
34:is written like a
75:
74:
67:
613:
555:
554:
552:
550:
536:
530:
529:
517:
506:
505:
503:
501:
487:
481:
480:
478:
476:
470:"Thakor Patel |"
466:
460:
459:
457:
455:
441:
432:
431:
429:
427:
413:
386:in January 1990.
200:textile designer
70:
63:
59:
56:
50:
27:
26:
19:
621:
620:
616:
615:
614:
612:
611:
610:
606:Indian painters
561:
560:
559:
558:
548:
546:
538:
537:
533:
522:"Gallery Delta"
518:
509:
499:
497:
489:
488:
484:
474:
472:
468:
467:
463:
453:
451:
443:
442:
435:
425:
423:
415:
414:
405:
400:
346:
267:
195:
155:
71:
60:
54:
51:
43:help improve it
40:
28:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
619:
609:
608:
603:
598:
593:
588:
583:
578:
573:
557:
556:
531:
507:
482:
461:
433:
402:
401:
399:
396:
395:
394:
387:
380:
373:
370:
367:
364:
357:
350:
345:
342:
266:
263:
194:
191:
154:
151:
112:Commercial Art
73:
72:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
618:
607:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
584:
582:
579:
577:
576:Living people
574:
572:
569:
568:
566:
545:
541:
535:
527:
526:Gallery Delta
523:
516:
514:
512:
496:
492:
486:
471:
465:
450:
446:
440:
438:
422:
418:
412:
410:
408:
403:
392:
388:
385:
381:
378:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
358:
355:
351:
348:
347:
341:
339:
333:
329:
327:
323:
319:
315:
314:Gallery Delta
309:
307:
299:
295:
292:
288:
279:
271:
262:
260:
256:
252:
248:
247:one-man shows
244:
243:Austin, Texas
240:
235:
232:
226:
223:
215:
211:
209:
205:
201:
190:
188:
184:
178:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
150:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
127:Gallery Delta
124:
120:
115:
113:
109:
106:area, at the
105:
101:
97:
89:
81:
77:
69:
66:
58:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
21:
20:
547:. Retrieved
543:
534:
525:
498:. Retrieved
494:
485:
473:. Retrieved
464:
452:. Retrieved
448:
424:. Retrieved
420:
334:
330:
326:Berry Bickle
318:Helen Lieros
310:
303:
284:
236:
227:
219:
196:
179:
156:
143:South Africa
117:He moved to
116:
96:Thakor Patel
95:
94:
76:
61:
55:October 2021
52:
33:
571:1932 births
549:28 February
500:3 September
454:3 September
449:Zeitz MOCAA
426:3 September
222:mixed media
175:Jeram Patel
137:Gallery in
135:ZEITZ MOCAA
565:Categories
540:"Whats On"
417:"Whats On"
398:References
344:Chronology
259:Fort Worth
231:landscapes
239:Bangalore
171:Ahmedabad
139:Cape Town
363:, Bombay
356:, Bombay
287:Zimbabwe
265:Zimbabwe
208:Calcutta
129:and the
119:Zimbabwe
338:Chicago
167:Sojitra
159:Gujarat
41:Please
475:6 July
375:1986,
291:Harare
257:, and
255:Austin
251:Dallas
193:Career
187:Bombay
123:Harare
104:Bombay
204:India
163:India
551:2021
502:2020
477:2021
456:2020
428:2020
185:in
567::
542:.
524:.
510:^
493:.
447:.
436:^
419:.
406:^
324:,
320:,
253:,
161:,
141:,
553:.
528:.
504:.
479:.
458:.
430:.
68:)
62:(
57:)
53:(
49:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
