Chawan Kashinath
Born into a family of shoemakers, Kashinath Chawan lives in Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, India. Every morning, he leaves the slum where he lives to go into the city, where he runs a small shoe-shining stall. During the quieter moments of the day, he gives free rein to his passion for drawing, using torn pieces of cardboard or papers picked up from the street as his canvas.
Chawan creates his compositions with colored ballpoint pens, without any preliminary sketches. His process, built from repeated strokes, light at first then denser, produces vibrant lines, refined chiaroscuro effects, and a remarkable graphic softness. He mainly depicts Hindu deities, scenes from the Mahabharata or the Ramayana, as well as political figures and Bollywood celebrities, reflecting his deep cultural and popular roots.
