Daku, whose pseudonym means “bandit,” is one of the pioneers of urban art in India. With a background in the advertising industry, Daku’s practice is a critique of the marketing dynamics that are driven by hyper-consumerism and its effect on social behaviors. While the artist’s early practice was influenced by different styles of graffiti, he is now experimenting with a variety of mediums and written scripts of English, Hindi and Urdu, retaining a key characteristic of urban art to stimulate discourse amongst an audience.
The artist’s most recent body of work has been developed with a keen interest in the temporality of time and existence which takes form through the transient nature of light and shadow. Daku’s works have been part of renowned exhibitions, festivals, museums and biennales such as Centre Pompidou, Venice Biennale, Triennale Design Museum, Sikka Art Fair and the India Art Fair among others.