Petal Penance

Dr. P. Gnana

Co-Founder and Managing Director at Gnani Arts

P. Gnana paints, sculpts and creates conceptual installations, as one of Singapore's leading international artists. Indeed, he has obtained a highly- captivated audience in the Lion City and internationally for the aesthetic and conceptual niche that he has created for himself within the ever-competitive dynamics and economics of urban art-making. It is a fact that exemplary paintings by Gnana are in the collections of the former President of the Republic of Singapore; of the Singapore Art Museum of the National Heritage Board; and of many individuals and establishments on a global level. Gnana is a recipient of the LASALLE Scholarship of the LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore), from where he received his formal training in the art of painting.

He was granted the honour of being selected (in 2005) to undertake a project commissioned by Singapore's Ascendas to create 14 large-scaled-paintings within an abstract expressionist motivation for the International Tech Park in Chennai (India). In 2013, one of Gnana's monumental larger-than-life sculptures under the 'Incarnation' series (made from recycled/found materials) was acquired by the National Parks Board (Singapore) to display at the Fort Canning Park, Singapore. In 2019, Gnana was honoured by Singapore's pioneering Bhaskar's Arts Academy with the prestigious title, 'Chitra Kala Nipuna'.

Gnana is also an active committee member of the Sculpture Society (Singapore) and the Singapore Art Society. In addition, his paintings have been successfully auctioned by the Masterpiece Auction House in Southeast Asia. Gnana made his debut in New York in 2011. He continues to be a well- respected and prolific painter-sculptor in the international arena, and a mentor for many artists.