Dilnawaz and Vispi Tarapore have founded Mazda Art to promote art and artists
Hoofrish Hozdar-Bisney
"As an artist, I’ve always believed that growth comes from pushing boundaries, exploring new styles, and experimenting with different mediums. I strive to break away from the idea of specializing in just one niche, allowing myself to evolve and create freely,” says Dilnawaz Tarapore, a commerce graduate with a diploma in traditional animation and a background in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional character animation. She hopes to explore various mediums and techniques, partici- pate in international art exhibitions and events and to collaborate with artists and communities from around the world. It is her aim challenge traditional norms and foster cross-cultural understanding through her work.
The global art market is valued at a staggering $ 67.8 billion (Rs 572.5 crores), according to the latest Art Basel Report. Yet, India remains underrepresented in this thriving industry. While the country has seen success in sectors like healthcare, IT (information technology) and electric vehicles, the world of art has been largely overlooked. In times of economic downturns, art is often pushed to the sidelines because it is deemed non-essential.
Top: artworks by Dilnawaz Tarapore;
above: Mazda Art Festival
Top, from l: M. V. Ramana Reddy, Jehangir Bisney, Vispi Tarapore,
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Dilnawaz Tarapore, Priya Darshini Gazdar;
above, from l: Vispi, Tahan, Dilnawaz and Yohan Tarapore
Indian artists face numerous challenges, including lack of opportunities and infrastructure. Many struggle to find spaces where they can exhibit and sell their work; financial sustainability remains elusive. The industry is largely unorganized, with many artists lacking the necessary skills in digital marketing, event management and strategic promotion to reach potential buyers. Misconceptions created by high profile art auctions further discourage buyers from engaging with more affordable and original works, marginalizing many artists.
Recognizing the lack of opportunities for emerging artists in India, Dilnawaz, 46, and her husband Vispi, 44, residents of Hyderabad, founded Mazda Art in 2022. Vispi, a graduate of IIM (Indian Institute of Management), Calcutta, who worked in the gaming industry for two decades driving revenue and growth, is the chief operating officer of Mazda Art, a platform to support and promote talented artists, to address the challenges they face and to provide a nurturing space where creativity can flourish.
Mazda Art offers guidance from seasoned professionals, holds workshops, offers mentorship and provides a platform for emerging artists to foster an environment where artistic talent can grow, connect and thrive. The Mazda Art Festival held in 2023 and 2024 has become a hub for artistic growth where artists can showcase their work, learn from others and extend their exposure to a wider audience.
Dilnawaz’s work with Mazda Art is a testament to her belief that art has the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through this platform she seeks to uncover the talent and stories that are waiting to be told within India’s emerging art community.
Outside of her art, Dilnawaz enjoys travelling to serene and scenic destinations to escape the chaos of crowded spaces and reconnect with nature. Her interests also extend to documentaries that explore the mysteries of the universe, wildlife and our planet; world cinema, which offers a rich array of storytelling and cultural insights; and animation, particularly the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation house that continues to inspire her. Her art is shaped by these experiences. For Dilnawaz, creativity, nature, and global perspectives are all interconnected, continuously shaping her evolution as an artist.
The Tarapore children, Yohan, 16, and Tahan, 11, too have diverse creative interests ranging from crafts and sports to music and the culinary arts. Yohan has successfully completed his 10th grade and is eager to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Tahan is in the sixth grade. They occasionally explore drawing and painting, adding an extra layer of artistic energy to their home. Their parents foster this creativity, ensuring that their home is a space where imagination thrives and artistic expression is encouraged.
Regarding religion, the Tarapores aver: "We proudly honor our Zoroastrian roots while embracing progress and modernity, blending heritage with contemporary perspectives.”
Mazda Art is located at 5-9-699 Sohrab Manzil, Gun Foundry, Abids Hyderabad, Telangana, 500001, tel: +91 8297869290.