Dev Prayag -2 Painting

I moved to Hong Kong in 1999 at the age of 22, and got immediately enamoured by Chinese ink paintings. The passion for art drove me to undertake formal training at the reputed Hong Kong Arts Centre in 2000, learning the Xie Yi or the freehand style of ink painting under Mr. Foo Sai Heng, where I continued my training till 2011. This was when a major turn took place in my life as I was diagnosed with a near-fatal ailment and decided to relocate to India. With the emotional and physical challenges present to me in these difficult times, I took refuge in art once again. In dec 2013, I obtained a diploma in Fine arts, which Helped me refine my artistic skills further. Soon after, my professional journey began as I partook in my first group exhibition at Epicentre, Gurgaon, in Dec 2013. This was the first of many shows, including India Art Festival, in Delhi and Mumbai. I also lead a successful solo exhibition at India Habitat Center, Convention Foyer in 2019, where I displayed a collection of paintings I had created in 3 years - 2015-2018, mostly urban landscapes of cities like Jodhpur, Benares and Udaipur. Many of my paintings have found home in India and abroad. One of my “Jodhpur paintings” is also displayed at the Max India Foundation office in Noida, Delhi NCR. My earlier works had mostly been inspired my personal travel experiences. The lockdown in last 3 months gave me an opportunity to explore India virtually. I was able to discover so many beautiful locations, which inspired me to start a series on India. The “Incredible India” series is my attempt at promoting the hidden beauties of our uniquely stunning nation on a global platform. My personal journey has helped me truly understand the intersections of mental health, education and art. Since March 2017, I have been volunteering as an art therapist for chemotherapy patients at different Max Hodpitals in Delhi, NCR. I also conduct regular art sessions at my studio in Gurgaon. statement- My love for travel can be seen through my art work. I try to combine elements of Chinese painting with fine arts skills, and have been able to develop my own style, where I try to capture the essence of the city though colours and shapes- simplifying complicated structures into spontaneous brush strokes that are soothing to, both, the eyes and the mind.