Artist Research- DAKU

Artist Research- DAKU 

'The Theory Of Time' Goa, 2019 

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/01/theory-of-time-by-daku/ 

Pseudonymous Indian street artist DAKU recently installed an immersive text-based work in Panjim, Goa. Placed along 31st January Road, a fishnet structure suspends letters above pedestrians. The region’s abundant sunlight pours through to cast shadows on the street, spelling out tropes about the passage of time.



About the artist himself- 
First introduced to graffiti in 2006 through a website- Streetfiles. Initially collaborated with France-based artist JonOne, one of the founder-members of Crew 156 — the group of popular New York City Subway artists from the 1980s, in Mumbai in 2008. Also known for collaboration with two other graffiti artist, Bond & Zine in Delhi. Then he started tagging his own name in Devnagari script on walls in Mumbai/South Delhi in 2008; he did it to reach large Indian population who understand only local languages. He later stenciled fuck in Hindi across 9 places in Mumbai overnight in 2011 to protest against Vasant Dhoble, assistant commissioner of police- accused of moral policing.He regularly commented on social issues by his works like stenciled LPG cylinder rocket to highlight price rise, blindfolded protester during 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement.

Before 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, he modified several stop signs to deliver messages and provoke reaction from public. He tagged his name Daku across cities in India in indigenous fonts and typography including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Baroda. Along with others, he did a 200 meter long/seven meter high wall graffiti, commissioned at Buddh International Circuit. 

Daku has also created amazing street arts with light, shadows and reflections. He first experiment with this was during Kochi biennale, 2012 and put mirrors to reflect texts such as “Time Flies” or “Time Travel” for limited time in a day. This developed in his practice in later years.

He organized India's first-ever street art festival in Delhi in 2013 and his works have been showcased at venues such as the Centre Pompidou, Venice Biennale and Triennale Design museum.

His work has now become labelled as 'commissioned vandalism' as it is funded yet not licenced in India. His most recent work develops his use of shadow as a medium. 

My own work often utilizes text as a medium or material. This here is partnered with the use of the sunlight. This is a clever form of production meaning the viewer is immersed by the work without necessarily seeing the actual physical work. The viewer is also reminded of the elemental power surrounding them, of time itself passing as the work drifts overhead.