Mina Dasani
Painting and creating art has been a fascinating journey that started playfully in my youth in Mumbai, India. This slowly matured into more meaningful art as I formally trained to pursue an undergraduate degree in Applied Arts from Sophia Polytechnic (Mumbai).
Thereafter I applied my design skills to an entrepreneurial enterprise called Koko that designed, manufactured, and supplied textile-related children’s products as well as women’s fashion to retail shops and exporters.
I was brought back to art in its purer form when my family relocated to Dubai in 1996.
Dubai is where I re-kindled my love for painting and found many opportunities to explore this new journey experimenting with different mediums and participating in numerous group exhibitions.
Over the years, my portfolio of work includes acrylics, watercolors, sumi-e, oils, silk painting, mosaic, and mixed media.
Inspiration comes to me from a myriad of different sources – be it idle, expressive sketching, an interest in local cultures, captivating expressions on the faces of people, hand-made paper with unusual textures, abstract reflections, the beauty and healing power of nature and my own growing interest in spirituality - all of these have influenced my work over the years
Thanks to my Applied Art background, I've always enjoyed doing commissioned work collaborating with interior designers and clients.
I have always believed that
An artwork speaks for itself to whosoever responds to it.
Education
1997 - 2002
Miscellaneous workshops of sumi-e brush painting, watercolors, mixed media, silk painting and mosaic at the Dubai International Art Centre | Dubai, UAE
2000
Sumi-E workshop with visiting renowned Japanese artist, Koshun Masunaga | Dubai, UAE
1974 - 1979
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Sophia Polytechnic | Mumbai, India
Accolades
2005
Awarded 1st prize for Dubai International Art Center Members’ 50th Exhibition | Dubai UAE
2004
Awarded 2nd prize for Dubai International Art Center Members’ 49th Exhibition | Dubai UAE
2001
Certificate of Merit for participation in the 1st Watercolor Challenge | UAE by Winsor & Newton
1978
Certificate of Merit for Illustration, Sophia Polytechnic | Mumbai, India
1978
One of 2 designs chosen from all of Mumbai for an Air-India and Bloomingdale sponsored poster competition held in the US during the promotion of their store’s theme “India, the Ultimate Fantasy”
Exhibitions
2023
One World, One EarthDubai International Art Centre & Suan Artand | The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai INDIA
2023
Dubai International Art Centre & The Creative Cubes | Dubai UAE
2023
Anantara & Artezaar | Dubai UAE
2023
World Art Dubai & The Creative Cubes | Dubai UAE
2023
Someone Says Love, Falcon Villa Gallery & GoG Gallery | Dubai UAE
2023
Vyom International Group Art Exhibition, Nehru Center & First Wish Art Gallery | Mumbai INDIA
2023
Love and Life Art Exhibition at Reem Art Gallery & Artezaar | Dubai UAE
2023
The Mission, First Wish Art Gallery | Tbilisi GEORGIA
2022
Small is Beautiful # 5, Museum of the Americas | Dubai UAE
2020
Corona Quilt Project
2020
DIFC Art Nights | Dubai UAE
2019
Voices, Artezaar art gallery, DIFC Art Nights | Dubai UAE
2019
Beyond Borders, Cassells Hotel | Dubai UAE
2019
The Common Grounds Exhibition, Gallery Arabesque, DIFC | Dubai UAE
2018
47th National Day Celebrations, Paris Sorbonne University | Abu Dhabi UAE
2017
Certificate of participation, Luxembourg Art Prize from Pinacotheque, | Luxembourg
2010
Fringe Dubai | Dubai UAE
2010
Al Seef Market, Dubai Shopping Festival | Dubai UAE
2009
Kaleidoscope, an initiative by the Indian Embassy | UAE
2006
The Art and Music/Fashion Festival, Bur Juman | Dubai UAE
2005
Artists’ Oasis, Dubai Shopping Festival | Dubai UAE
2005
Dubai International Art Centre’s 50th members’ exhibition
2004
Dubai International Art Centre’s 49th members’ exhibition
2003
Art and Painting Exhibition 2003 “A Confluence of Art & Culture”
KSC Auditorium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2001
The Art and Music/Fashion Festival, Bur Juman | Dubai UAE
2000
The Art and Music/Fashion Festival, Bur Juman | Dubai UAE
2000
Summer Surprises, Jumeirah Beach Hotel | Dubai UAE
Other various miscellaneous exhibitions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman.
Experience
Private and corporate commissions as per clients’ requirements
Collaboration with interior designers to create satisfactory artworks for their clients
Artworks donations for greeting cards to raise funds for Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs
A wall painting for a school in Mumbai
Designed & manufactured textile products for prestigious retail stores in India and for export