C. Douglas was born in Kerala in Tellicherry in the year 1951. At the age of twenty he joined the Government college of Arts and Crafts, Chennai. His colored drawings from the mid 70`s with the foetus motif show an influence of K. Ramanujam`s line and K.C.S. Panikar`s moods. Before obtaining his diploma in painting in 1976 he settled down with Cholarnandal style but cooler and more complex. From 1981 to 1988 he lived in West Germany.
"It takes a little absence to create some presence." - C Douglas ... His association with the New Expressionists, Clemente and Anselm Kiefer stimulate his fully mature work. He used mud, charcoal and water colors on crinkling and frayer paper. He had arrived at a universalized figure which has subconscious depths and analysis. His works have harsh mild, angular human figures, often with masks. Wide suggestions of personal and general narratives, situations, values and art-historical quotations add to a sense of an entire life journey to his paintings. Douglas`s figure is that of an unbeatable being - one who would be grateful for not having been brought forth at all. His artistry turned the picture surface into the fictional ground. In his later works the figures depicted have been more picturesque.
Douglas has had several solo exhibitions: Muniau 1982, Munich 1986, Amsterdam 1994, Bombay, Madras and Bangalore, Sakshi 1992-1996. His participation includes shows in Germany 1981-90, Amsterdam 1991, 95, Help age India, Bombay 1991, 93, V-11 Triennale, New Delhi 1992, Art for Cry, Biennale Bhopal, Contemporary Indian painters, Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay, Urban signals, Birla Art Academy, Bombay l995, during the past two years at Sakshi, Bangalore, Bombay, The Gallery, Chennai, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, Chemoud Bombay, Values Art Foundation, Madras. Douglas has received awards from the 1.K.A., Madras in 1980, 89, 90, Bharat Bhavan Biennale in 1990, a national award for paintings, New Delhi 1992, junior and senior Government of India Cultural Fellowships for 1991-93, 1994-96 and a Charles Wallace grant in 1994 to study ceramics in the Netherlands.
Awards received by C. Douglas:
# 1980, 90 Awards, State Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
# 1990 Awards, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.
# 1991-93, 1994-96 Received Cultural Fellowship, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
# Received National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
# Received UNESCO Grant.
# 1994 Received Charles Wallace Grant.
