SHOP DETAIL

INTRODUCTION

My studio is situated in the rural area of the Sandur Valley. Sandur is my homeland and it is from there that I derives much of my creative inspiration. My work successfully combines the past and present, traditional and modern, in my distinctive style of Karnatakan folk art. My subject matter being the rural folk life of India specially of Karnataka, and Indian Hindu Mythology. My paintings make a conscious effort to express the richness and grandeur of local rural life, depicting the life styles and customs of the Sandur villages in a distinctive and colourful manner. I interprets the indigenous cultural sources that are familiar to me, and the people of Karnataka. I depict mythology, history, and folk narratives expressively and vividly. My paintings combine various influences including Kavi art – Vijayanagar style (an intricate form of mural painting), Surpur style, classical leather puppetry, and an Indian Modernist style. I brightly colored compositions have unique characteristics including large round eyes depicted on both human and animals, and voluptuous male and female figures. I depict women in colorful saris immersed in the simple pleasures of Indian rural society, men tending cattle, or musicians playing joyfully at a festival or mela! Many painted narratives depict women’s supernatural power, and her power over men. I have noted for my many compositions depicting Cows, which are considered to be sacred in Hindu society. In more of my recent paintings I have observed unconsciously the principles of Indian philosophy as expressed through stories and myths of the Vedas, Hinduism’s sacred and ancient scriptures. I paint in oil, water color, acrylic, pastels, charcoal and pencil. I also worked extensively in the medium of sculpture. The study of folk life in India is very rich and varied, and I have studied many facets of my subject, including literary works found in religious manuscripts, ancient texts and palm leaf books,