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“Throughout the centuries there were
men who took first steps, down new
roads, armed with nothing but their
own vision.” –Ayn Rand
Indeed, artists are a conduit of
emotion. They harness raw emotion
and translate it so that it can be
reinterpreted through the human eye.
My journey has been a long one. Over
the course of the last fifty years,
I have torn down my interior walls
piece by piece so that I could
present my interpretations with
truth and dignity. As a result, I
have created scores of oil-on-canvas
works that serve as a vehicle for my
art; my vision.
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Painting has always been an
important aspect of my
life—continually delivering me great
joy and allowing for accolades.
During my mid-twenties, however, I
turned my aesthetic focus to
architecture and design. My practice
recently celebrated its twenty-fifth
anniversary. To record my
innovations and my analysis of
retail marketing and design
concepts, I decided to write a book
“the Art & Science of Store Design”
on this intriguing topic. In many
ways, the process of writing,
researching and soul-searching
allowed me to refocus my attention
on my first passion: painting.
Stepping Back
Let’s take a few steps back before
moving forward. I was born in
Africa, in 1949 and spent my first
decade in Africa. At the age of
thirteen, I began studying in
Bombay, India where I discovered a
passion and proclivity for artistic
expression while attending a “hobby”
class. It was at this private school
that I learned about various
applications and processes related
to art and architecture. At the age
of sixteen I decided that I would
focus on art and Architecture. It
would take years, however, for my
destiny to be realized. As it is
written, “a journey of a thousand
steps begins with one.”
India would be my home for the next
eleven years, seven of which I spent
studying architecture and design. I
continually painted during my free
time and began to implement my love
for color and contrast into my
paintings. Looking back, I received
very structured architectural
training in school but spent every
spare minute on my art or studing
the varied works of master artists.
This was an interesting balance
because painting provided freedom
while academics kept me focused. To
this end, I struck a balance within
myself.
While I kept my passion for painting
close to my heart over the years, I
had a family to raise, a mortgage to
pay and a business to build. Now, my
three lovely children are grown. My
once hectic travel itinerary and
family obligations has been reduced
thus allowing me to once again turn
my focus and energies toward art and
architecture.
I was once humbled by
accomplishments. Today, I’ve learned
to embrace accomplishments as mere
mile markers. For example, my art
was recognized on a grand scale in
June of 1971 when, my oil on canvas
paintings were selected to be
presented at the prestigious
Jehangir Art Gallery located in
Mumbai, India. To me, the real
feather in my cap is the fact that I
hold the distinction of being one of
the youngest artists to be offered a
one man show at the gallery, which
holds equal weight to such
U.S.-based institutions such as New
York’s Museum of Modern Art. In the
course of relocating from India to
America, I unfortunately lost the
list of those who purchased the
paintings from the exhibit, which
included approximately 35 to 40
paintings.
Before I was graced with privilege
of presenting a one man show, I
recall studying at the library above
the Jehangir Art Gallery the works
of Van Gough and his contemporaries
who broke conventional artistic
paradigms, which intrigued me and
drove my own work. I never wanted a
formal training in art, as I
believed it would restrict my
creativity.
As I study some of my early
paintings that adorn the walls of my
home, I’m continually amazed that
these varied interpretations
completed so long ago still
influence my approach to design
concepts, and ultimately fuel my
passion to continue to paint and
explore my interior self.
Conversely, it has also influenced
my creative approach toward my
architecture practice.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Painting as a medium has always
excited me. My upbringing, however,
was calculated. My destiny in many
ways was laid out for me, and in
some respects, as is the case with
many Indian families; I was obeying
the rule of law handed down by my
parents.
Before settling on architecture as
my professional career path, I spent
ten months in London doing
absolutely nothing; at least from a
professional perspective, although I
would occasionally visit the Royal
Institute of British Architects. My
wife worked and I would accompany
her to work in the morning, read
thought-provoking books by such
compelling authors as Thomas Blair,
meet her for lunch and continue with
my readings until it was time for me
to accompany her home.
I became apathetic as I searched for
my place in this world. I longed to
return to India where I enjoyed a
varied artistic career. Aside from
my paintings, I was busy with
architectural endeavors, interior
design work as well as holding an
advisory position with the Indian
National Theatre. In this capacity I
was responsible for providing the
final critique for set and wardrobe
designs. In London, however, I was
without these expressive mediums and
was avoiding the next step in my
life which was continuing with my
education.
One day a friend of the family
approached me and said in no
uncertain terms that I needed to
work. This wasn’t a discussion, but
more so a directive. He provided me
with an address where I would find
work. At this point I had a degree
but allowed myself the freedom to
pursue this job whatever it may be.
I did not inquire but rather
accepted his offer. I arrived at the
address and was asked to take a seat
in a large room. I was given a
number and was instructed that when
that number was called that I would
walk through a corresponding door.
In time the number was in fact
called. I walked through the door
and was placed guided into a white
van. Once I was seated the van sped
off to an unknown destination.
Looking back, the situation was a
blank canvas: I was simply one of
many colors in the palette of life.
The universe held the paintbrush.
I opened the door to find myself in
a factory setting. I was given a
white jumpsuit to wear and was
guided by a foreman through this
noisy, dark building. Eventually we
came to a room and through the
noise, haze and bewilderment; I
realized this was a Matchbox car
factory. Countless little cars were
passed on to us on conveyer belts
waiting for painting or
pin-striping. In life, they say
there is an “Aha” moment, this was
mine. I continued there for seven
days, quite perplexed. I was
instructed to complete many tasks
including painting outdoor shelving
units. It taught me the value of
money and how blessed had I been up
that point in my life.
My apathy was soon transformed into
passion for creative experience.
While it may be hard for some people
to understand, in India, when you
come from a certain type of family,
certain jobs are deemed suitable or
inappropriate. For me, the factory
job would fall into the latter
category. I learned, however, an
invaluable lesson about hard work.
Shortly after this time period, my
wife and I moved to New York. The
transition was difficult and I
recall listening to the music of
Felix Mendelssohn whose symphonies
mirrored the pain and absence of joy
that I was experiencing. In time
these feelings passed. I graduated
with a master’s degree from the
Pratt Institute of Architecture and
City Planning . As I assimilated
into the American culture, a slow
and somewhat learning process, I was
both intrigued and impressed with
the American work ethic and the
opportunities I was offered. Hard
work and perseverance indeed paid
dividends. All the while, during
reflective, intimate moments, my
paint brush would dance and bounce
on canvases both large and small. In
time my portfolio grew.
In the 1980s, a local country club
commissioned me to complete 10
paintings depicting various
musicians that would adorn the
club’s walls. These paintings were
completed during the part of my life
I refer to as “Pioneering.” I took
thirty days off to do these
paintings. However, it wasn’t until
the twenty-seventh day that I began
to feverishly paint day and night.
Over the course of the next three
days I completed the collection of
the ten musicians.
When I delivered the collection, I
made a deal with the owner that one
day I would have the right to buy
back the paintings, which I did a
few years ago. The owner, an
Irishman, was so taken with the
painting of the bagpiper that he
offered me a great deal of money but
I could not separate the grouping.
To me, these characters, and
paintings, are brothers and sisters
and cannot be split.
Looking through my collection
presented on the web, I realized
that my works fall into various
times of my life’s development and
phases:
• 1960s: Developing life
• 1970s: Enjoying life
• 1980s: Pioneering life
• 1990s: Absorbed in life
• 2000s: Observing life
Like my architectural designs, it is
my hope and intention that my
paintings reach both welcoming and
discerning eyes far and wide. Before
reviewing my works, I would like to
leave you with another quote from
Ayn Rand: “Every man builds his
world in his own image. He has the
power to choose, but no power to
escape the necessity of choice.”
All featured paintings are available
for both sale and reproductions. For
more information, please contact...
info@dineshdoshi.com
54 Quintree Lane,
Melville, NY 11747
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