P R Daroz

The ceramics of P.R Daroz has reflected in India the transition from domestic vessel to sculpture and architectural installation, in the course of his forty-year involvement with clay. Born at Hyderabad in 1944, Daroz completed the first leg of his education with a Diploma in Applied Arts and Design (1967), as well as further training in sculpture (1967-68), both from the College of Fine Arts and Architecture in Hyderabad. He then went on to pursue further specialization in ceramics under Jyotsna Bhatt in the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Baroda (1970-72).

In the span of his prolific works, Daroz has been credited with numerous solo in the country and abroad. The most noted of them include the ones held at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai (1984), Max Mueller Bhavan, Hyderabad and Pune (1985), Yohan Stores, Brunei (1989), Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai (2000 and 2008), Art Heritage, Delhi (2003), and ABS Bayers Art Gallery, Baroda (2004).

In addition, he has also participated in various national and international group shows. They include the Asian and Australian Bowl Exhibition, Lalit Kala Studio, New Delhi (1981), Indian Triennal of International Art, New Delhi (1986), OBIDOS International Biennale, Portugal (1987), the National Biennale of Art, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (1988), the 3rd World Ceramic Triennial, Zagreb, Yugoslavia (1990), 2nd Beijing International Art Biennale, China (2005), Pravah and the Inaugural show, Harrington Street Art Centre, Calcutta (2010).

The camps and workshops that Daroz often participates and co-ordinates in include, ceramic camp, Max Mueller Bhavan, Hyderabad and Pune (co-ordinator; 1985), Invited by the late J. Swaminathan to set up and start a ceramic workshop, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (1986-87), Participated at the World Ceramic Symposium, Yugoslavia and La’sal (1989), conducted a ceramic mural workshop, Faculty of Fine arts, Baroda (1999), International Artists Workshop, Istanbul ( 2003) , Artist’s camp, Singapore (2004), conducted mural workshop, Spain ( 2006), Travel Workshop, Phuket, Thailand (2007), and ceramic workshop, Uttarayan foundation, Baroda (2009).

Daroz’s name has come to be synonymous with architectural large scale ceramic installations in India. His impressive list of public commissions include the mural at the Sardar Patel Planetarium, Baroda (1976), a mural of Large Stupa series pots, Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, (1991), a mural at the American study center, Delhi (1997), mural and columns, Hotel Spice Island, Chennai (1998), ceramic mural – Reliance Industries, Navi Mumbai (2008), Ceramic mural for Wadhwa developers, ‘Platina’ Corporate office, Mumbai (2010).

For his contribution to the field of Indian ceramics, Daroz has been felicitated with various awards from government bodies as well as international art panels. They include the Medallion and Trophy, OBDIOS International Biennale, Portugal (1987), Honoured for creativity in ceramics by Ceramics World Symposium, Yugoslavia (1989), Elected as a member of International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva (1990), Honorable Degree, 3rd World Ceramics Treinnal, Zagreb, Yugoslavia (1990), Awarded a senior fellowship by the HRD Department of culture, Government of India, New Delhi (1998), National Award for Ceramics Lalit Kala Academy, Delhi (2004).

A potter known for his bold and innovative techniques, Daroz has worked in a variety of registers. If he has produced utility-driven tableware, he has also created animal figures in the pursuit of sheer delight and experimented with abstract forms. His ceramic images address and dramatize the dilemma of form over function, and he utilizes the sheer materiality of clay along with his ease of skill and technique, to create works of complete virtuosity.