My work is holistic, combining the old with the new, printmaking with painting, narrative with abstract and big with small. My initial work experience as a bill board painter and a desire to remain rooted but at the same time open to external influences seems to have helped me find firm grounding for my work. I find signs of Om and Sri to have a universal relevance and like to enrich my paper and canvas with these and other tantric icons. some of my work is in large format and others in small size. I like the challenge of small paintings as they require a disciplined mind and control on technique. For me painting is Brahmanand, the ultimate joy that I like to indulge in.  

Biography 

Born in 1931, Ahmedabad, Dave completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda in 1956. He has been honoured with several awards including Lalit Kala Akademi Ratna, 2004 and Padma Shri, 1985, Tokyo Biennale Award, 1965; Calcutta Academy of Art Award and Bombay Art Exhibition Awards, 1959 and thrice the National Art Academy Award in 1956, 1957 & 1958. His work has been exhibited widely in shows held in different parts of the country and overseas including the International Graphics Exhibition, Switzerland in 1960; Paris Biennale, Paris in 1961; Commonwealth Exhibition, London in 1962; Frankfurt Kunstkabinett, Germany in 1963; Third Triennale India Gold Medal in 1975; Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil in 1980; Indian Contemporary Art Seminar and Exhibition, Delphi and Athens in 1984; Indian Contemporary Art, Tokyo in 1988; National Exposition of Contemporary Art, NGMA, 1991. He lives and works in New Delhi.