Exhibitions

Lot 125

Devraj Dakoji
Pranamu

- Dakoji Devraj graduated from the college of fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad from 1959 to 1965. After finishing studies, he enrolled at the M.S. University, Baroda, to study process of printmaking. Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academi gave a scholarship to Dakoji to go to Chelsea School Of Arts London for postgraduate studies in 1975. In 1976 -77 Dakoji travelled extensively in England and Europe. This tour helped him understand art forms in West.Later, he joined the Tamarind Institute, Albuquerqus New Mexico U.S.A in 1992-93.

Dakoji's paintings have animal characters, though they do not necessarily depict human traits. His canvas is full of animals, the most ubiquitous ones being crows, monkeys, dogs, elephants and strokes. Unique lithographs and mono-prints show a fine line between the real and the imagery. Most of Dakoji prints are in black and white, but some canvases have such hue of the colors and playful atmosphere.

Dakoji a descendant from a lineage of ayurvedic physicians, a central part of his art is a belief in the unity of the created world, where all creation has equal status and importance. The goat may take on birds' characteristics stance, while bird may acquire goat's coloring. Like a healer of the impaired sight, Dakoji restores to our understanding a sense of universe as the scene of miracle. His images actually are charged with energy and mystery.

Dakoji's imagination sets in motion a sense of cycle and circuits. In his paintings, some of the birds become Jurassic and enlarged, their eyes bulging having fierce beaks, in rendering of prey, though their bodies and limbs not yet streamlined for flight. The forms of such creation look like fossil forms, which is imprinted in one's mind.

Dakoji's cosmos or universe does not obey the natural linear laws of progression, therefore his images are illusory. Dakoji's art practice is subtle endeavour. It incorporates various binaries-figures and abstraction, linearity and stylised naturalism and free expression of Panchtantric tales, which do not tell stories. - Dakoji Devraj graduated from the college of fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad from 1959 to 1965. After finishing studies, he enrolled at the M.S. University, Baroda, to study process of printmaking. Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Academi gave a scholarship to Dakoji to go to Chelsea School Of Arts London for postgraduate studies in...

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