Vinod Daroz explores ideas of oneness through ceramic art

Ceramic artist Vinod Daroz returns to Hyderabad with vibrant multi-hued installations putting forth newer narratives

Aikyam, or oneness, is ceramist Vinod Daroz’s labour of love for nearly four years. The exhibition on display at Hyderabad’s Kalakriti Art Gallery showcases a wide range of his ceramic sculptures; a few standalone three-dimensional sculptures aside, several smaller works come together to form wall-mounted installations of varied kinds, each narrating a story. His work is a blend of Indian and oriental aesthetics. He uses motifs of South Indian temples as metaphors to discuss gender issues. 

Mortar and pestle, Shiva lingam, abhisheka kalasam, designs on temple murals, gopurams and the inner sanctum find representation in his work: “In the last 15 years, I have frequently visited temples in Kanchipuram, Srisailam and other cities; I take back new observations each time.” 

On occasions, he is lucky to take photographs as reference points. Many a time, photography is prohibited and he relies on his “photographic memory”. Pointing to a series of lattice-like patterns, he traces it back to a temple in Srisailam where he spotted a similar pattern. “I could not take photographs, but what I observed there stayed with me.”

The idea of the masculine and the feminine co-existing is the theme of Aikyam. The recurring mortar and pestle motifs underline this co-existence of genders; the artist also uses motifs such as egg, pupa, butterfly, buds and blooms to represent procreation and metamorphosis. There is also the underlying thematic convergence of Shiva and Shakti to denote oneness. 

The forms are mounted on backgrounds as varied as small cushion-shaped sculptures to butterfly patterns, indicating both fragility and strength. One of the installations has 75 artworks mounted on individual butterfly-shaped backgrounds. “I wanted to display 100 in all, but given the space, chose 75,” says Daroz.

The visual language is never monotonous. The forms are varied and so are the colours. Daroz’s work is distinct for its use of striking colours, often accentuated with golden-hued smaller elements that work as embellishments.

Born and raised in a goldsmith family in Kalwakurthy near Hyderabad, Daroz lives and works in Vadodara. The work that has emerged from his studio in Vadodara has helped him forge collaborations with ceramic artists and galleries in China, Macau and Thailand, among other nations.