Dr Karaka Venkata Rao’s art moves with the restless rhythm of water, rising powerful and unyielding in the wake of human excess. The reminiscence of a place he called home, interspersed with nostalgia, marks the basis of the layers of depth he incorporates in the sculptures. He relentlessly sifts through archaic constructs of timelessness that reflect unhindered metamorphosis of the surroundings but steers clear of advocating or preaching. The sculptures encompass shards of primitive and traditional symbolism that remain strikingly relevant in today’s world. The men and women depicted in the sculptures exude a mythical dominance that sets the tone for an understanding of the nature that has seen a transient shift from being pure to its present-day impurity. Dr Venkat Rao is observant of his surroundings and questions the systems that sustain life and its marginalized approach to endure nature’s wrath. In his sculptures, Dr Venkat places nature at the center of human existence. The figures that emerge from his studio are not isolated bodies but creatures shaped by tides, wind, salt, and soil. Fishermen, women, and hybrid forms appear as extensions of the coastal world around them. Their gestures swerve in a sea of a honeycombed scape encompassing multitudes of worlds in a weave, enmeshed in the memory of the fishermen’s nets that lay waiting.
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| Sculptor: Dr. Venkata |
My reaction to human's savage flaws has transformed into forms which are partly human and partly in animal form. But, my concerns towards humans have flipped my verdict on them turning them into gorgeous gargoyles which are metaphorical depictions of metropolitan human's convoluted life," says Dr Venkat as he speaks about his sculptures.
These sculptures echo the lived experiences of the communities by the sea, for whom the sea is the lifeline. In these works, nature is not scenery. It is the governing force that structures life, labour, and survival. The sculptures also register the strain placed on this fragile relationship with nature. The bodies carry marks of imbalance, of waters thickened by waste and shorelines slowly altered by human intervention. K Venkata Rao’s practice reflects a world where nature continues to speak, even as its voice is strained by neglect. His figures stand as witnesses to a landscape that has shifted from abundance to uncertainty.
Armed with bamboo, paper, resin and swaths of fabric, he builds sculptures that turn everyday materials into eye-catching creations. At times, he paints the sculptures giving them a semi-realistic appearance, his practice is further informed by the enduring sculptural traditions embedded in the temples of Andhra Pradesh.
What emerges is a visual field where humanity and environment remain inseparable, bound together in a tense coexistence where the recovery of nature becomes both a memory and a demand.
This show will be inaugurated on 14th April 2026 at 5pm by Honourable Guests Dr. Achal Pandya(Professor and Head of the Division(Conservation) Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts(IGNCA) Janpath, New Delhi, Ms. Vinita Mirchandani(Studio 3 Art Gallery, Mumbai), Mr. Ratan Krishna Saha(Eminent Sculptor)
"IN THE FACE OF IT ALL" Solo Show of Sculptures by renowned sculptor Dr.Venkata. He is going to show his recent works in Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai from 14th to 20th April 2026 between 11am to 7pm.
Jyoti C Deo
Artist and Writer - (Founder and Editor: Art and Design Dimensions)
from: 14th April 20th April 2026
“IN THE FACE OF IT ALL”
Solo Show of Sculptures by renowned sculptor Dr. Venkata
VENUE: Jehangir Art Gallery
161-B, M.G. Road Kala Ghoda, Mumbai 400001- Timing: 11am to 7pm
Contact: +91 9665041123, +91 9849491123
