About
Dhanaraj Keezhara ,
Born in 1969 Keezhara, Kannur , Kerala.
Dhanaraj keezhara, who is also an accomplished artist in his own right, believes his expertise has been developed less by formal artistic training than by his own hard work and dedication to the discipline. He prides himself on being self-taught and well trained through his personal engagements with art, society and the politics of his time. This approach has helped him to develop a unique style of artistic creativity.
Dhanaraj’s personal work is a continuous engagement with art, emerging from the negotiations of people within their society and environment. Fired by a belief in art’s ability to heal and renew a world torn asunder by violence and strife, Dhanaraj has continuously involved himself in community initiatives and education. From his student days at the College of Fine Arts in Kannur, through his ten-year stint at various NGOs, and his present work at Christel House India, art has always been a means for him to connect and share his emotions and experiences with others.
Adding to his various experiences, Dhanaraj has lived and worked with several indigenous communities in India,these unique experiences and dialogues continue to enrich his work. He has also presented many successful art exhibitions. Presently working as a visual media teacher at Christel House India in Bangalore .
Exhibitions
Dhanaraj Keezhara had held solo and group exhibitions in more than 30 villages in Kerala (1986-91); Participated in the annual painting exhibitions organized by Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy (1989, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2007 and 2008) ;Exhibition of spiral painting at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru (1993), Group exhibition titled ‘From the nether the ceaseless dance’ in three towns of Kerala (1993-94), Environment photo exhibition in Ooty (1997, 1998 and 1999); Group exhibition in Chitra Art Gallery in Bengaluru (1999); Solo exhibition Teri Bangalore (2005); Group exhibition by Bangalore Film Society (2005, 2006 and 2007); Solo exhibition’ Truth from the margins ‘- AFB Bangalore (2007) ; Silpa Chitra - Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (2009), Solo exhibition ‘Stirring silence ‘- AFB Bangalore (2010), Exhibition at Art Bengaluru (2012) at UB City – Bangalore, Group exhibition - Galerie Sara Arakkal (2012), group exhibition ArtWave by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath ( 2014); Everyday Life: The Repertoire of Ritual and Performance, a multi-media collaboration with US sound artist Diana Chester at Kannur in Kerala (2014). Sugatha - a terracotta sculpture, Kerala (2015) ; Theyyam Nelathezhuthu - transient painting on courtyard- Collaboration art with Diana Chester, Kannur (2016); Community graffiti at Fishmarket, Cherukunnu, Kannur (2016); Theyyam - Ritual, Myth, and People - a pop-up installation- Collaboration art project with Diana Chester, Keezhara, Kerala (2017); A Sculpture garden, tribute to O N V Kurup, at GGVHS School, Cherukunnu (2017) ; Solo Exhibition -Chiaroscuro - the shades of light and life- Metro Art Gallery, Bangalore (2017) ; Art for HOPE workshop for differently-abled people At HOPE , Pilathara(2018); Solo exhibition- Stirring Silence, at Artville ,Bangalore (2018). Wounded souls: A contemporary myth of being at Rangoli Metro art center (2019). Wounded souls: A contemporary myth of being at Artville, Bangalore (2019), Chiaroscuro - the shades of light and life, second edition - Artville, Bangalore (2021), "Of Solitude and Selfies'' - at Rangoli Metro art center, Bangalore (2021), "Choozam"- solo exhibition at Keezhara , Kannur (2023)
"Somatilc Scape" -solo exhibition at Academy art gallery, Payyannur (2023)
Dhanaraj has co-authored the book ‘Rain In the Wind -A Collection of Art and Poetry,’ an innovative collaborative work that shares the poetry of Deneene A Collins of USA.