Born in Kerala, India, 1951; lives and works in Chennai, India
Douglas started his career as a painter at the age of 20 when he travelled to Chennai (then Madras) to enrol himself at the Government College of Arts and Crafts. Douglas' telling of his own artistic journey has a sense of open-endedness. He describes it at different times as a process of 'learning and unlearning', an 'eternal postponement' in finding the meaning of life. In his works, that imbibe all his various experiences – from Kerala to Cholamandal to West Germany and back – he arrives at a universalised figure that approximates both subliminal depths and analysis.
A winner of several accolades and honours, including awards from the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai (1980); Bharat Bhavan Biennale (1990); National Award (Paintings, 1992, 1993) and the Charles Wallace Trust award (1994), Douglas has been a part of numerous solo and group shows across Europe and Asia. Selected individual exhibitions of his works have been displayed at Sri Parvati Gallery, Chennai, 2014; Focus Art Gallery, Chennai, 2012; Ashvitha Gallery, Chennai, 2006; Akar Prakar, Kolkata, 2006; Jehangir Gallery, Mumbai, 2006; Schoo's Gallery, Amsterdam, 1993; European Parent Office Gallery, Munich, 1986; Bayerishes Verines Bank, Garmish, 1983 and Gallery Am Horwath Haus, Murnau, Germany, 1982.
Selected group exhibitions include: Busan Biennale, South Korea, 2015; Signals. Signposts. Voyages 4 from the Madras Movement, 2014; Vintages, Passages, Parables, Gallery Time and Space, Bengaluru, 2013; Tactile, Latitude 28, New Delhi, 2012; Metaphor and Beyond, Gallery 88, Kolkata, 2010; Sites of Recurrence, DakshinaChitra, Chennai and Boras Museum, Sweden , 2003; Embarkations, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 1999; Rediscovering Roots, Lima, 1998; Cryptograms, Lakeeran Gallery, Mumbai, 1997; Indian Art Since Post Independence, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, 1996; View from the Edge, Sakshi Gallery, 1995; and Artist Beyond Boundaries, Netherlands, 1995.
C Douglas is represented by Art Houz Gallery, Chennai, India.
