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Prafulla Mohanti

Born, 1936 in Nanpur Village, Orissa, India

Prafulla Mohanti was involved in a group known as IAUK - Indian Artists United Kingdom. He exhibited with the group (alongside Yeshwant Mali, Lancelot Ribeiro, Suresh Vedak, Ibrahim Wagh, and Mohammad Zakir) in an exhibition at Burgh House Museum, New End Square, Hampstead, London NW3. The exhibition was Exhibition of Paintings by IAUK Indian Artists living in U.K. and took place 27 January - 24 February 1980. The brochure for the exhibition featured the following useful introduction to IAUK:

“Throughout the history of art, at least throughout the history of modern art, there have been groups of artists. The reason for the existence of these groups have been perhaps as diverse as the ideas behind them. But invariably there have been sound human reasons for these groups to come about.
     The IAUK too has similar reasons for its existence. It is an Association of Professional Artists of Indian origin who have lived and worked in the UK for the last fifteen years or more. It is a revised version of an earlier body - The Indian Painters Collective, 1963 - a revival which is influenced by practical reasons derived from the result of its members’ efforts during their individual struggle for recognition.
     We, the members of IAUK, have come to believe that if the issues concerning us are approached collectively, we stand a better chance of succeeding and thus of making a positive contribution to the arts and culture of this country we have now made our home.
     Among the IAUK‘s aims are the recognition of its members’ work on an equal basis with their British contemporaries and the fulfilment of their rights to the amenities and facilities available in this democratic society. The IAUK would like to assist and promote Indian artists living in this country by showing their work. And, through exhibitions at 8 South Audley Street, London W1, and other selected places, it will attempt to create a growing awareness of the Indian arts and culture among the general public.
     The IAUK is the only organisation of its kind outside India. It functions on strict democratic lines.”

The brochure featured brief biographical notes on each of the artists. Mohanti’s were,

“Studied architecture Bombay, town planning Leeds. Worked for GLC as architect planner. Now devoted himself to painting and writing. Author of ‘My village, My Life’ (Japanese, Danish, Norwegian translations) and ‘Indian Vllage Tales’.

First one-man show Leeds University 1964. More than 25 one-man exhibitions India and Europe. Paintings in public and private collections, including Leeds City Art Gallery, National Gallery, New Delhi, Modern Art Museum, California. Influence of Nanpur on his work, the subject of Area Museums Service current travelling exhibition.Has given dance recitals relating movement to painting.”

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