Deviprasad Rao
Artist of the intuitive world
This concept is inspired by the wisdom of Gautama Buddha’s Heart Sutra, which teaches that "form is emptiness, and emptiness is form." These two forces are inseparable, much like the relationship between what we perceive and the space that surrounds it.
(1/2 is Acrylic colour on canvas works)
We the people series is derived out of observations of Devi of himself and others around him in various everyday, simple, regular functions and activities. They also depict various human emotions, attitudes and feelings. In general they depict normal and positive aspect of life around that artist see for himself
Inspired by everyday things and daily scenes of life, this series actually found its take-off point in Devi’s neighbourhood, at a time when there was a host of construction and building activity. The artist represents his view of these buildings in a finished/half-finished state through aerial maps of the sites.
This page is "Me and My Bicycle" is a monochrome drawing series capturing the deep personal connection Devi formed with his bicycle while navigating Goa’s streets. After its unexpected loss, the bicycle emerged as a recurring motif in his sketches, symbolizing freedom, nostalgia, and the quiet moments of journey and reflection. construction
In this second series of Industrial Fragments, Devi tries to create works that are more defined with details with industrial forms that are again filled with patterns. They appear illustrations but they give new touch to artists experience and transforming into new visuals.
This concept is inspired by the wisdom of Gautama Buddha’s Heart Sutra, which teaches that "form is emptiness, and emptiness is form." These two forces are inseparable, much like the relationship between what we perceive and the space that surrounds it.
(2/2 is Water colour on paper works)
Forms and Emptiness Series - 2 depicts progressions in terms of detailing with in the form that are more fine and defined filled with enormous lines, dots and patterns. Forms and Emptiness is the series based on clue provided by Gautama the Buddha in Heart Sutra.
In this initial series Devi captures the his fascination with the vibrant city – a city where he first came face to face with Gaudi and Miro’s works. Large canvases feature Devi’s early experiments with shape and colour to capture the essence of a city he still feels a deep unconscious connection with.
The 'Buddha Series' reflects Devi’s introspection and spiritual curiosity, blending abstraction and figuration to explore themes of faith, awareness, and truth. With dense details and subtle forms, these works shift focus from physicality to the inner, formless realm.
Following the technology and its possibilities Devi is trying to create new visual vocabulary using iPad and iPencil. However, he is still a conventional painter uses this available means to mostly sketch, draw and plan his progression of his new works or visual language.
Since 2009 Devi was consistently involved with commissioned projects in India and abroad. Most of the projects are his vision of cities belongs to Den-City 1 & 2. However he also painted pure abstracts as well as three dimensional works and murals.
Devi was inspired by creative dimensions of the density of several cities in the world. He was often awed by human creations and the progression of civilization mainly in the field of architecture, design and town planning. Lisbon was the first city he chose to develop series titled Den-City.
For the past four years, Portugal has served as Devi’s muse and roaming studio, inspiring a series of works that celebrate the country’s architectural heritage and evolving landscapes. This exhibition, a cultural collaboration between India and Portugal, captures Portugal’s cities and towns through Devi’s fusion of realism and abstraction, offering vibrant, layered compositions that reflect his unique interpretation of place.
Devi was inspired to created this series after visiting a closed factory that is now turned into an industrial museum called ‘Landschaftspark’ in Duisburg, Germany - a city that boasts historical relevance of over 1000 years as most industrialised city.