Devraj Dakoji, detail of Evolution, 1995, viscosity print.
DEVRAJ DAKOJI | Pranamu, Life Force
Exhibition Dates: Sept 28 - Oct 28, 2022
Viewing by appointment only!
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Blackburn 20|20
323 W. 39th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10018
646.416.6226
When I first joined The Robert Blackburn Print-Making Workshop (RBPMW) as a member artist back in 2013, I entered into a diverse community of brilliant printmakers of all backgrounds and at every level of career. Many of those printmakers also taught classes at Blackburn as a way to spread their knowledge and love for the print processes.
In 2016, I had the incredible opportunity to take a lithography class from master printer Devraj Dakoji, and the work from that class is what become Catharsis. Devraj’s guidance and advice was crucial as I experimented with using Sharpie to create my images, and I will always be grateful for his patience as I lost my temper with etching that damn slab of limestone.
Born in 1944, in Dharmoj Gudam, India, Devraj’s heritage is a strong influence on his work and worldview, as we can see in bodies of work titled, Pranamu and Wheel of Life. As a printmaking, painter, and draftsman, he looks to tradition to develop a visual vernacular of animalistic and phantasmagoric imagery. Pranamu, or life force, is a concept at the heart of his work.
This show—DEVRAJ DAKOJI | Pranamu, Life Force—is a celebration of Devraj’s creative influence, and his lifetime of teaching and artmaking, through 50 years of prints and works on paper. The show include prints by Kay Walkingstick, Lee Dillon, MF Husain, Juan Sanchez, Catalina Chervin, Lenore Lim, and student's work (that’s where I come in!).
As one of Devraj’s students, a print from my Catharsis series is hanging in this show, and I couldn’t be happier or more honored to be included. Please go see the exhibition if you can!