Chitrakar

 

“The oldest living city in the world”.

This is a portrait of my friend Durga who is one of the most talented artist of his generation.
In his workshop which faces river Ganga in Varanasi (Benaras) he is painting amazing bodies making love or sometimes alone but always with sensuality and strength, with something special that reminds me a lot of Eugene Delacroix’s work…

I shot this picture in Delhi while we were visiting Safdarjung’s Tomb.
Durga thinks that this portrait makes him look older.

In Hindi, “Chitrakar” means painter.

Studies Under Way

 

This is another picture shot in the new workshop of my friend Durga in Varanasi (Benaras).

Those studies in progress pinned on a wall are part of a new topic about hijras, those members of “the third gender”, neither man nor woman. 
Durga Charan Das is a young painter living in the “City of Lights”, he is painting amazing bodies making love or sometimes alone but always with sensuality and strength, with something special that reminds a lot of Eugene Delacroix’s work…
Durga has already won several prestigious awards in India and now exhibitions of his work are starting in Europe.

For more explanations concerning hijras you may see those pictures
www.flickr.com/photos/designldg/3086720616/
www.flickr.com/photos/designldg/3085797949/

The Artist at Work

© All rights reserved.

All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.

My friend Durga Charan Das in his new workshop in varanasi (Benaras).

When he was a child he became famous after painting the feet of Goddess Durga’s statue in a temple nearby his family house in a village located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
This reputation allowed him to become a successful Art student in the prestigious “Banaras Hindu University” (B.H.U.) of Varanasi.
He is painting amazing bodies making love or sometimes alone but always with sensuality and strength, with something special that reminds a lot of Eugene Delacroix’s work…
Exhibitions with his work are starting in Europe this season.
These are a few of the prestigious awards that Durga won in India:

– 7th North Regional Camlin Art Foundation, New Delhi 2007.
– Annual Art Exhibition (F.O.V.A., B.H.U.) 2005/2006/2007.
– Camelart Foundation’s, Art Tour, 2007.
– Kala Parva, India, 2000.
– Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, U.P., 2007.
– 6th North Regional Camlin Art Foundation, New Delhi 2006.
– Youth Festival Spandam, B.H.U., 2004.
– Umminde, Uttar Pradesh, 2004.
– Varuna Mahotsav, organized by the Art & Culture Develpment Society of the state of Uttar Pradesh, 2004.
– Ballia Mahotsav, Uttar Pradesh, 2001.
– Tulika in water colour, IT, B.H.U., 2004.
– Annual Art Exhibition, KUP, Varanasi, 2003.
– Ram Chhatpar Shilpnyas, Uttar Pradesh, 2008.
– Indian Art Gallery, Pune, 2008.
– Young Artist Art Camp, Delhi, 2008.
– Ram Chhatpar Symposium, Varanasi, 2008.
– Smviti, Young Artist of Varanasi, 2007.
– Varuna Mahotsva, organized by the Art & Culture Develpment Society of the state of Uttar Pradesh, 2007.
– Ideal Journalist Association, Uttar Pradseh, 2005.
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile//105…

The painter’s workshop

© All rights reserved.

All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.

This picture was shot one evening at my friend Durga’s workshop which is facing the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

Durga Charan Das is a young painter living in the “City of Lights”.
When he was 4 years old he became famous after painting the feet of Goddess Durga’s statue in a temple nearby his family house in a village located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Ever since he is considered to be the Mozart of Indian contemporary painting.
This reputation allowed him to become a successful Art student in the prestigious “Banaras Hindu University” (B.H.U.) of Varanasi.
The biggest university in Asia has a program led by some of the best Art teachers among modern India.
His training gave him a knowledge of classic Indian and European paintings while allowing him to carry on his own style.
He is painting amazing bodies making love or sometimes alone but always with sensuality and strength, with something special that reminds a lot of Eugene Delacroix’s work…
Durga has already won several prestigious awards in India and now exhibitions of his work are starting in Europe.

This is a link in order to see his portrait:
www.flickr.com/photos/designldg/2190256216/in/set-72157600004147839

In the New Workshop

 

This picture was shot recently one evening the new workshop of my friend Durga in Varanasi (Benaras).

Durga Charan Das is a young painter living in the “City of Lights”.
When he was 4 years old he became famous after painting the feet of Goddess Durga’s statue in a temple nearby his family house in a village located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Ever since he is considered to be the Mozart of Indian contemporary painting.
This reputation allowed him to become a successful Art student in the prestigious “Banaras Hindu University” (B.H.U.) of Varanasi.
The biggest university in Asia has a program led by some of the best Art teachers among modern India.
His training gave him a knowledge of classic Indian and European paintings while allowing him to carry on his own style.
He is painting amazing bodies making love or sometimes alone but always with sensuality and strength, with something special that reminds a lot of Eugene Delacroix’s work…
Durga has already won several prestigious awards in India and now exhibitions of his work are starting in Europe.

This is a link in order to see his portrait:
www.flickr.com/photos/designldg/2190256216/in/set-7215760…