In the early years of his
career, Dinesh sold Calculators in Chawri Bazaar; quality checked garments in a
Faridabad factory and cleared tables as a Busboy in an Upper Eastside Bar in
New York. He believes that these jobs were as good an education, if not better
in some ways, than the Economics degree he got from Delhi University. This
rather chequered career path was due to his teenage belief that if he followed
in his Photographer Father's footsteps he would be yet another victim of the
Indian caste system. This rebellion further led him to a 12 year long career as
a Client Servicing Executive in Advertising where he finally achieved
'burn-out' at the ripe old age of 33 years and which left him with a burning
desire to become a Professional Photographer.
So in 1990 he finally succumbed
to what can probably be blamed on genetic coding - the desire to make images -
both as a means of making a living and as a form of creative expression. The
last 26 years have seen him involved in creating images for Advertising,
Editorial and Corporate clients, specifically in the area of Food, Still-life,
People and Interiors.
Dinesh’s personal work
has been shown in both Solo and Group Exhibitions. Some of these are:
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
1. “In my own World”
shown at IIC, Delhi; NCPA, Mumbai; Oxford Gallery, Kolkata; Varanasi and
Bangalore.
2. “Living Faith” exhibited
at India Habitat Centre, Delhi and Oxford Gallery, Kolkata in India. Also at
Sundaram Tagore Gallery in New York and by the Asia Society in San Francisco,
USA.
3. “In my own World 2” shown
at India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
4. “Colours
– an Indian Language” shown at the World Economic Forum, Davos,
Switzerland.
GROUP
EXHIBITIONS:
1. “Divine Facades” –
Architectural Photography from India at Impressions Gallery, York and
Pitshanger Manor Museum, London. Also toured England and Canada for 2 years.
2. ‘Click – Contemporary Indian Photography’ at Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi.
3. “3 Artists” at
Falkenstern Fine Art & Atelier, Germany.
4. ‘Where Three Dreams Cross’ 150 years of Photography from India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh at Whitechapel Gallery, London and Fotomuseum,
Switzerland.
5. “Tirtha – A Spiritual Journey’ with Prashant Panjiar at Palette gallery, New Delhi.
6. “Rivers of Pilgrimage’ at
Siddarth Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. “Growing up in India” at
Mondavi Center, University of California, USA.
8. “Re-imaging the People of India” at India International Centre, New Delhi and in France.
9.
“Reciprocation” with Kathryn Myers at Gallery Art & Aesthetic, New Delhi.
Besides this he has done
2 Pictorial Books - "Bazaar" and "Living
Faith" - which were a result of over a decade of traveling through the
traditional markets and religious centres of India through the Nineties. 26
years into the journey, Photography is not just a profession and a passion but
his means of understanding and feeling the world and life around him.
His 3rd book, which had
been commissioned by the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Sahapedia, is "Right of
the Line - The President's Bodyguard" and its about all aspects of the
life and duties of the oldest regiment of the Indian Army, ranging from the
pomp and pagentry to the passion and camaraderie of the men and their horses.
This has been launched in Oct. 2015. Following the success of this, he was commissioned
to work on "Life in Rashtrapati Bhawan" by them, which is his 4th
Photo book and has been published in Dec. 2016.
Dinesh lives in Gurgaon,
near Delhi, with wife, Rachana, who is an Advertising Executive turned Interior
Designer and for the last 10 years a dedicated Kathak Dancer. They have 2
daughters, Myra, who is 21 years old and shares her mother's passion for
dance and her father's passion for travel. And Mahi, who at 17 had decided to
be an Artist, as in her wisdom she feels that photography is only a 'half-art',
but is now wondering if History is actually her true calling.
Besides continuing to do
commercial assignments for International Magazines, Advertising Agencies and
Corporates, Dinesh is also currently working on 4 personal Projects. These
are:
1. "Benaras -
Everyday in Eternity",
2. "Earning Dignity
- from Art, Craft and Trade"
3. "Mobile Stories –
Life on the move"
4. “Mothers &
Daughters”
Dinesh is also a
Co-Founder and Managing Trustee of Nazar Foundation, which has been
set up to promote Photography as an art-form. And is also a Co-Founder and one
of the Creative Directors of the Biennale ‘Delhi Photo Festival,’ the
first 3 editions of which was held very successfully in Oct. 2011
and Sep 2013, and the 3rd edition that concluded in Nov/Dec. 2015. He has
also curated 5 Photography shows, with subjects ranging from Selfies to Street
to Portrait, for the Serendipity Arts Festival that took place in Goa during
Dec. 2016,
He is actively involved
in Photography education and has been visiting faculty at Jamia Millia – Delhi,
Symbiosis – Pune and The One School – Goa. He will also be teaching in SACAC,
Delhi and MICA, Ahmedabad. He also conducts workshops and mentorship sessions
regularly under his personal brand, "Photoyatri."